American Experience (1988–…): Season 19, Episode 2 - Eyes on the Prize: Parts 3 & 4 - Ain't Scared of Your Jails/No Easy Walk - full transcript

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Narrator:
FEBRUARY 1, 1960.

IN GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA,

FOUR BLACK COLLEGE
STUDENTS SAT DOWN

AT A LUNCH COUNTER
RESERVED FOR WHITES

AND REFUSED TO LEAVE.

THIS SIT-IN WAS A DIRECT
CHALLENGE TO SOUTHERN TRADITION.

IT'S JUST NOT THE THINGS
WE'RE USED TO DOWN HERE.

I MEAN, THEY COME IN
AND THEY SAT DOWN,

AND WE'RE NOT USED TO THEM
SITTING DOWN BESIDE US.

BECAUSE I WASN'T RAISED
WITH THEM,



I NEVER HAVE LIVED WITH THEM
AND I'M NOT GOING TO START NOW.

Narrator:
TRAINED IN NONVIOLENCE,

THE STUDENTS REFUSED
TO FIGHT BACK.

AS THE SIT-INS SPREAD,

THEY THREATENED
THE ESTABLISHED ORDER

IN CITIES ACROSS THE SOUTH.

♪ EVERYBODY WANTS FREEDOM ♪

♪ LET ME TELL YOU
ABOUT FREEDOM ♪

♪ FREEDOM, FREEDOM, FREEDOM. ♪

♪ I KNOW THE ONE
THING WE DID RIGHT ♪

♪ WAS THE DAY WE
STARTED TO FIGHT ♪

♪ KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE ♪

♪ HOLD ON, HOLD ON ♪

♪ KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE ♪



♪ HOLD ON. ♪

I AM BEN WEST

AND THIS IS MY CITY.

FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS
I HAVE BEEN ITS MAYOR.

I HAVE WATCHED IT GROW FROM
AN OVERGROWN COUNTRY TOWN

INTO A GREAT
METROPOLITAN COMPLEX.

WHILE NASHVILLE IS A CITY,

YET THE WAYS OF ITS PEOPLE

ARE SMALL-TOWNISH.

THE MORNING GREETING
IS COMMONPLACE.

Narrator:
NASHVILLE WAS PROUD OF
ITS PROGRESSIVE TRADITION.

A CENTER FOR EDUCATION,
THE ARTS AND INDUSTRY,

IT HAD LONG PROMOTED ITSELF
AS THE ATHENS OF THE SOUTH.

BUT FOR ITS 70,000
BLACK RESIDENTS,

THIS WAS STILL
THE SEGREGATED SOUTH.

MOVIES, HOTELS
AND CITY BUSES WERE SEGREGATED.

BLACKS SPENT MONEY
IN DOWNTOWN STORES

BUT WERE REFUSED SEATS
AT LUNCH COUNTERS.

IN NASHVILLE, A GENERATION THAT
HAD GROWN UP WITH SEGREGATION

WAS ABOUT TO DEMAND A CHANGE.

Man:
WHEN I WAS A BOY,

OF COURSE NASHVILLE WAS CLEARLY
A DIVIDED TOWN.

WE WERE VERY MUCH AWARE OF THAT,
AND YET, ON THE OTHER HAND,

WE REALLY DIDN'T CARE.

WE WERE VERY MUCH CONTAINED.

WE KNEW OUR CULTURE.

WE KNEW WHAT WE WERE ABOUT.

BUT IT WAS CLEAR THAT
WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG,

THAT I HAD SOME PROBLEMS ASKING
MY MOTHER QUESTIONS

ABOUT WHY THAT WAS.

I KNEW THAT IT WAS

BUT I WAS ALWAYS CURIOUS
AS TO WHY IT WAS.

AND ONE DAY WE WERE IN KRESS.

KRESS HAD THESE BEAUTIFUL
MARBLE WATER FOUNTAINS

AND ONE SAID "COLORED,"
AND ONE SAID "WHITE."

AND BEING THE KIND OF KID I WAS,
I WENT OVER TO BOTH FOUNTAINS

AND TASTED THE WATER
AND TOLD MY MOTHER,

"IT TASTES THE
SAME TO ME, MOM."

AND SHE SAID, "BOY,
COME ON OVER HERE."

I SAID,
"MOTHER, WHAT'S THE REASON?

"WHY ARE THERE
TWO NAMES UP THERE

AND THE WATER IS
EXACTLY THE SAME?"

SHE SAID, "BOY, COME ON HERE.

WE AIN'T GOT TIME TO FOOL AROUND
WITH THAT KIND OF MESS."

AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT,
YOU KNOW,

THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING
IN THE BACK OF HER HEAD

THAT SHE WASN'T GIVING ME.

Narrator:
NASHVILLE'S FOUR BLACK COLLEGES
ATTRACTED YOUNG PEOPLE

FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

FOR MANY, SEGREGATION WOULD
BE AN UNFORGETTABLE LESSON.

I WAS LOOKING FORWARD IN COLLEGE

TO REALLY EXPANDING
MYSELF, AND GROWING.

I WAS TAKING THOSE KINDS
OF ISSUES VERY SERIOUSLY.

AND THAT PLAYED QUITE A PART
WHEN I GOT TO NASHVILLE

IN WHY I SO KEENLY
RESENTED SEGREGATION...

NOT BEING ALLOWED TO DO
BASIC KINDS OF THINGS

LIKE EATING AT RESTAURANTS
IN THE TEN-CENT STORES EVEN.

SO I REALLY FELT STIFLED
AND SHUT IN, VERY UNFAIRLY.

Narrator:
THE STUDENTS WERE DRAWN
TO ACTIVIST JIM LAWSON

AND HIS WORKSHOPS
IN NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION.

Lawson:
IMPORTANT BUSINESS
TO TRY TO ACCOMPLISH,

AND THAT IS TO TRY TO HAVE ONE
MAJOR ROLE-PLAYING EXPERIENCE

WHICH SORT OF TRIES
TO SET THE STAGE

FOR AN ACTUAL DEMONSTRATION,
FOR AN ACTUAL SIT-IN.

WHEN JIM LAWSON
CAME TO THIS CITY,

HE BEGAN TO ORGANIZE STUDENTS.

AND MOST IMPORTANT TO THAT

FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND
WE WHO WERE MINISTERS

WAS THAT WE HAD WORKSHOPS,

AND THE WORKSHOPS IN NONVIOLENCE
MADE THE DIFFERENCE.

WE BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND
THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND IT,

THE TACTICS, THE TECHNIQUES...

HOW TO, IN FACT,
BEGIN TO TAKE THE BLOWS

AND STILL RESPOND WITH
SOME SENSE OF DIGNITY.

Student:
LET'S GET THESE
NIGGERS OUT OF HERE!

NIGGER!

NIGGER!

WAS A BOLD STEP.

THE FIRST TARGET
FOR THIS DIRECT ACTION

WOULD BE THE LUNCH
COUNTERS DOWNTOWN.

JOHN LEWIS, ANGELA BUTLER
AND DIANE NASH

LED STUDENTS
TO NASHVILLE'S FIRST SIT-IN.

Man:
THE STUDENTS WERE DRESSED

LIKE THEY WERE
ON THEIR WAY TO CHURCH.

WE WENT INTO THE LOCAL STORES...

THESE STORES WERE KNOWN
ALL ACROSS THE SOUTH

AND, FOR THE MOST PART,
ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE TOOK OUR SEATS IN A VERY
ORDERLY, PEACEFUL FASHION.

WE STAYED THERE AT THE
LUNCH COUNTER STUDYING,

PREPARING OUR HOMEWORK,
BECAUSE WE WERE DENIED SERVICE.

THE MANAGER ORDERED THAT
THE LUNCH COUNTERS BE CLOSED,

THAT THE RESTAURANTS BE CLOSED.

WE JUST SIT THERE, AND WE
CONTINUE TO SIT ALL DAY LONG.

THE FIRST DAY...
NOTHING IN TERMS OF VIOLENCE

OR ANY DISORDER.

NOTHING HAPPENED.

THE FIRST SIT-IN WE HAD
WAS REALLY FUNNY

BECAUSE THE WAITRESSES
WERE NERVOUS.

AND THEY MUST HAVE DROPPED
$2,000 WORTH OF DISHES THAT DAY.

I MEAN, LITERALLY, IT WAS ALMOST
A CARTOON, BECAUSE...

I CAN REMEMBER ONE IN
PARTICULAR, SHE WAS SO NERVOUS,

SHE PICKED UP DISHES,
AND SHE DROPPED ONE

AND SHE'D PICK UP ANOTHER ONE,
AND SHE'D DROP IT.

IT WAS REALLY FUNNY.

AND WE WERE SITTING THERE
TRYING NOT TO LAUGH

BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THAT
LAUGHING WOULD BE INSULTING

AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO CREATE
THAT KIND OF ATMOSPHERE.

AT THE SAME TIME,
WE WERE SCARED TO DEATH.

MOST PEOPLE DID NOT TAKE
THE SIT-INS TOO SERIOUSLY

AT THE BEGINNING,

BECAUSE THEY FELT... YOU KNOW,
"THESE ARE THE OUTSIDERS.

"THESE ARE AGITATORS,
THESE ARE STUDENTS.

"THEY'VE COME FROM NEW YORK
AND OTHER PLACES AND...

"THEY'RE NOT OUR NEGROES.

"OUR NEGROES ARE HAPPY,
THEY'RE WELL OFF

AND WE KNOW THEM."

AND WE'D EVEN... SOMETIMES SOME
OF THESE PEOPLE

WOULD ASK THEIR MAID,
OR SOMETHING...

"IS THIS A JOKE?"

AND THE MAID WOULD SAY,

"DON'T PAY NO ATTENTION
TO THEM... NO-GOOD TRASH."

AND THEN SHE'D LEAVE

AND SHE'D GO OFF
TO THE N.A.A.C.P. MEETING.

Narrator:
THE SIT-INS CONTINUED
WITHOUT INCIDENT

FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS.

THEN, ON FEBRUARY 27, A WARNING:

GANGS OF TOUGHS
WERE GATHERING DOWNTOWN.

THE STUDENTS SAT IN AS PLANNED.

THE POLICE DID NOTHING
TO PROTECT THEM.

THE STUDENTS REMAINED TRUE TO
THEIR TRAINING IN NONVIOLENCE.

WHEN THE POLICE VANS ARRIVED,

MORE THAN 80 DEMONSTRATORS
WERE ARRESTED

AND CHARGED WITH
DISORDERLY CONDUCT.

Nash:
THE DAY THAT THE POLICE
FIRST ARRESTED US

"OKAY...

"ALL YOU NIGRAS, GET UP
FROM THE LUNCH COUNTER"

AND, YOU KNOW,
"OR WE'RE GOING TO ARREST YOU."

AND THEIR ATTITUDE WAS LIKE,
"WELL, WE WARNED YOU."

SO THEY REPEATED IT A COUPLE
OF TIMES, AND NOBODY MOVED.

AND OF COURSE, WE WERE
PREPARED FOR THIS.

SO THEY SAID,
"WELL, WE WARNED YOU.

YOU WON'T MOVE... OKAY,
EVERYBODY'S UNDER ARREST."

AND THEN THEY TURNED

AND THEY LOOKED AROUND
AT THE LUNCH COUNTER AGAIN

AND THE SECOND WAVE OF
STUDENTS HAD ALL TAKEN SEATS.

AND THEY WERE CONFOUNDED.

THEY KIND OF LOOKED AT EACH
OTHER LIKE, "NOW WHAT DO WE DO?"

AND THEY SAID, "WELL, OKAY,
WE'LL ARREST THOSE, TOO."

AND THEY DID IT.

AND THEN THE THIRD WAVE.

AND NO MATTER WHAT THEY DID
AND HOW MANY THEY ARRESTED,

THERE WAS STILL A LUNCH
COUNTER FULL OF STUDENTS THERE.

PEACE, QUIET AND GOOD ORDER

WILL BE MAINTAINED IN OUR CITY

TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.

RIOTS, MELEES AND
DISTURBANCES OF THE PEACE

ARE AGAINST THE INTEREST
OF ALL OUR PEOPLE

AND THEREFORE
CANNOT BE PERMITTED.

Narrator:
NASHVILLE'S MAYOR, BEN WEST,

WAS FACED WITH MORE THAN
MAINTAINING PUBLIC ORDER.

FOR GENERATIONS, WHITES
HAD TAKEN FOR GRANTED

THE SECOND-CLASS STATUS OF
THE CITY'S BLACK RESIDENTS.

NOW THE STUDENTS WERE
FORCING PEOPLE TO DECIDE

WHETHER SEGREGATION
WAS RIGHT OR WRONG.

I THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO STRIVE
TO GAIN SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE...

ALTHOUGH THEY'RE
CALLED NONVIOLENT

OR PASSIVE RESISTANT...

THEY'RE THE MOST VIOLENT.

I ALSO THINK THAT IT IS IN
VIOLATION TO MY CIVIL RIGHTS

IF SOMEONE CAN SAY
"YOU MUST SERVE ME"...

IF A MAN OWNS AN
EATING ESTABLISHMENT.

IF HE CAN'T CHOOSE
WHOM HE PLEASES TO SERVE

OR NOT TO SERVE

THAT CAN AFFECT ME, AND
YOU, AND ANYONE ELSE.

NOW, THE PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH

HAVE ALWAYS FED PEOPLE WHO CAME
AND KNOCKED AT THE BACK DOOR

AND ASKED FOR SOMETHING TO EAT.

BUT THEY HAVE ALWAYS
RESERVED THE RIGHT

TO EAT ONLY WITH INVITED GUESTS.

Narrator:
THE LOCAL BLACK COMMUNITY

BEGAN TO UNITE
BEHIND THE STUDENTS.

BLACK MERCHANTS SUPPLIED
FOOD TO THOSE IN JAIL.

HOMEOWNERS PUT UP
PROPERTY FOR BAIL MONEY.

Z. ALEXANDER LOOBY, THE
CITY'S LEADING BLACK LAWYER,

HEADED THE DEFENSE.

THE COURT FOUND THE STUDENTS
GUILTY OF DISORDERLY CONDUCT.

JOHN LEWIS REFUSED
TO PAY THE $50 FINE.

HE CHOSE 33 DAYS IN THE
CITY WORKHOUSE INSTEAD.

MOST OF THE OTHER STUDENTS
JOINED HIM IN JAIL.

GROWING UP IN THE RURAL SOUTH,
IT WAS NOT THE THING TO DO,

NOT TO GO TO JAIL.

IT WOULD BRING SHAME AND
DISGRACE ON THE FAMILY.

BUT FOR ME, I TELL YOU,

IT WAS LIKE BEING
INVOLVED IN A HOLY CRUSADE.

IT BECAME A BADGE OF HONOR.

♪ WELL, HAVE YOU
BEEN TO THE JAIL? ♪

♪ CERTAINLY, LORD ♪

♪ WELL, HAVE YOU
BEEN TO THE JAIL? ♪

♪ CERTAINLY, LORD ♪

♪ WELL, HAVE YOU
BEEN TO THE JAIL? ♪

♪ CERTAINLY, LORD ♪

♪ CERTAINLY, CERTAINLY,
CERTAINLY, LORD. ♪

Narrator:
PARENTS WORRIED

THAT ARREST RECORDS COULD
HURT THEIR CHILDREN'S FUTURE.

AND THEY FEARED FOR THE
SAFETY OF THEIR CHILDREN.

WELL, THERE WAS PLENTY
OF ANXIETY ON MY PART.

BUT I ALWAYS THINK OF WHAT
MATTHEW JUNIOR TOLD ME

WHEN HE CALLED, WHEN
HE CALLED FROM THE JAIL.

HE SAID... HE SAID,
"BE COOL, MOTHER."

AND THAT WAS VERY TRYING

AND YET IT WAS AMUSING, TOO...

HIS TELLING ME TO BE
COOL AT THIS POINT.

SO EVEN NOW WHEN I THINK OF IT

I GET QUITE A BIT
OF FUN OUT OF IT...

JUST HEARING HIM SAY IT.

I CAN'T SAY IT AS HE SAID IT.

BUT HE SAID, "BE COOL, MOTHER."

AND I TRIED TO BE COOL.

Narrator:
TO FIGHT THE JAILINGS
OF THEIR CHILDREN,

PARENTS TURNED TO THE POWER
OF THEIR OWN POCKETBOOKS.

IN NASHVILLE IN 1960

NEGRO BUYING-POWER WAS
ESTIMATED AT $50 MILLION A YEAR

WITH $10 MILLION SPENT IN
THE DOWNTOWN STORES ALONE.

SOMEONE DEVELOPED THE IDEA OF

"LET'S STOP SPENDING
MONEY DOWNTOWN."

AND BASICALLY IT WAS
SORT OF LIKE

THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT...

"LET'S STOP SUPPORTING THE
SYSTEM WE'RE TRYING TO CHANGE."

THE BOYCOTT IN NASHVILLE
PRIMARILY FOCUSED

ON THE NASHVILLE
DOWNTOWN STORES,

THE NASHVILLE RETAIL MERCHANTS.

WE FIGURED THAT IF THEY
WOULD FEEL THE PINCH

OF NOT HAVING SHOPPERS BUY IN
THE STORES IN DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE

THEN THAT WOULD PUT
PRESSURE ON THE MAYOR,

ON THE POLITICAL FABRIC
OF NASHVILLE,

TO CHANGE THE RULES
AND REGULATIONS.

C.T. Vivian:
WE SAW THE EASTER BOYCOTT

AS A CHANCE TO GET OVER
MANY IDEAS OF NONVIOLENCE

AND HELP CREATE A RECONCILIATION
OF ALL THE FORCES IN THE CITY.

EASTER WAS A MOST IMPORTANT
TIME FOR BUYING.

ALL BLACKS HAD TO HAVE

A FULL
BRAND-NEW OUTFIT AT EASTER,

NO MATTER HOW POOR YOU WERE,
ALL RIGHT?

YOU MAY START
THREE MONTHS AHEAD OF TIME

PAYING FOR THAT EASTER OUTFIT

AND YOU MAY BE PAYING FOR
IT FOR THREE MONTHS LATER.

♪ FROM MOBILE, ALABAMA,
TO NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE... ♪

Narrator:
WITHIN TWO MONTHS

THE SIT-INS HAD SPREAD
TO 69 CITIES...

FROM GREENSBORO TO SAN ANTONIO...

AND 2,000 HAD BEEN ARRESTED.

TO SUPPORT THE SIT-IN MOVEMENT,

A NATIONAL BOYCOTT
WAS ORGANIZED.

THOSE CHAIN STORES WHICH
DISCRIMINATED IN THE SOUTH

WERE ALSO PICKETED IN THE NORTH.

Man:
DO YOU THINK
THAT THE BOYCOTT

HAS HAD ANY GREAT IMPACT
ON THESE NATIONAL CHAINS

IN A CITY LIKE NEW YORK,
UP TO THIS TIME?

WELL, I'VE ALREADY SEEN
STATEMENTS

FROM SOME OF THE EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS

AT BOTH KRESS' AND WOOLWORTH'S

INDICATING THAT
THEY ARE CONCERNED

THAT A DECLINE HAS ALREADY BEEN
NOTED AND IS JUST BEGINNING.

I TAKE IT, THEN,
THAT YOU ARE ADVOCATING

NEGROES IN NEW YORK

TO STAY OUT OF THESE
NATIONAL CHAIN STORES?

OH, NO, THAT'S NOT TRUE.

I'M ADVOCATING
THAT AMERICAN CITIZENS

INTERESTED IN DEMOCRACY

SHOULD STAY OUT OF CHAIN STORES.

Lillard:
THE BOYCOTT WAS IN PERFECT TIME
"STAY OUT OF TOWN."

AND NASHVILLE AS A WHOLE...
BLACK AND WHITE...

DID STAY OUT OF TOWN,

BECAUSE THE WHITE FOLKS
WOULDN'T GO DOWNTOWN

BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL
VIOLENCE...

THE RIOTS, AS THEY SAW IT.

THE BLACK FOLKS... ALTHOUGH
THERE WERE SOME BLACK FOLKS

WHO WENT TO DOWNTOWN
TO TRY AND BREAK THE BOYCOTT,

AND WE HAD TO SEND SOME
EDUCATION COMMITTEES DOWNTOWN

TO CONVINCE THEM THAT
THAT WAS NOT THE THING TO DO.

WE DIDN'T HURT THEM

BUT WE DID KIND
OF SNATCH THEIR BAGS

AND TEAR THINGS AWAY FROM THEM,
FROM THEIR ARMS,

AND LET THEM FALL ON THE GROUND
AND SAY, "STAY OUT OF TOWN."

AND, OF COURSE, THAT... THE WORD
GOT AROUND PRETTY QUICK...

YOU DON'T GO DOWNTOWN ANYMORE.

Narrator:
WITHIN A MONTH

THE BOYCOTT BY BLACK CUSTOMERS
WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY EFFECTIVE.

Schweid:
WHEN IT STARTS TO
HIT YOUR POCKETBOOK

THEN YOU REALIZE...
"HEY, THIS IS SERIOUS."

THE MERCHANTS WERE GETTING
IT FROM BOTH SIDES.

THEN THERE WAS SOME VIOLENCE.

BLACKS AND SOME
SYMPATHETIC WHITES

WERE HIT OVER THE HEAD
BY THESE BLOND-HEADED HOODS

THAT SEEM TO COME OUT OF
THE SEWER FOR SUCH OCCASIONS.

AND THOSE WHO WERE STANDING
IN LINE IN A MOVIE

OR TRYING TO GET INTO
A RESTAURANT OR A CAFETERIA,

THEY WERE VERY HURT,

AND THIS CREATED A FEAR

SO THEN WHITE PEOPLE STARTED TO
BE AFRAID TO COME TO SHOP, TOO.

AND THAT WAS THE MAIN FEELING
I REMEMBER ABOUT THOSE TIMES...

FEAR.

Narrator:
IT WAS NOT JUST STUDENT
PROTESTERS WHO WERE ATTACKED.

BLACKS WHO WORKED DOWNTOWN

ALSO BECAME TARGETS
OF RANDOM VIOLENCE.

NASHVILLE, THE
MODERATE SOUTHERN CITY,

LOOKED ON IN DISBELIEF.

DYNAMITE THROWN
FROM A PASSING CAR

AT 5:30 IN THE MORNING

DESTROYED THE HOME
OF Z. ALEXANDER LOOBY,

ONE OF NASHVILLE'S
BLACK CITY COUNCILMEN

AND DEFENSE ATTORNEY
FOR THE ARRESTED STUDENTS.

THE BLAST WAS SO POWERFUL

IT SHATTERED 147 WINDOWS
IN MEHARRY MEDICAL COLLEGE

ACROSS THE STREET.

MIRACULOUSLY, NO ONE WAS KILLED.

IT WAS SUCH AN OUTRAGEOUS ACT

THAT IT COULD BE VERY USEFUL
TO A NONVIOLENT MOVEMENT THEN

TO MOVE, OKAY?

IT WAS A UNITING OF THE CITY,

BUT THE OUTCOME WOULD BE DECIDED

BY HOW WE, IN FACT,
CHANNELED THAT ENERGY, RIGHT?

AND WE THEN HAD THE FIRST
MAJOR MARCH OF THE MOVEMENT.

PEOPLE BEGAN TO GATHER

AND WE BEGAN TO MARCH.

AND STUDENTS CAME OUT
FROM THE LUNCH ROOMS

AND THEY CAME OUT FROM
BEING ON THE CAMPUS GROUNDS

AND THEY JOINED,

AND THEY CAME OUT OF BUILDINGS
AND DORMITORIES.

WE FILLED JEFFERSON AVENUE.

IT'S A LONG, LONG
WAY DOWN JEFFERSON.

AFTER A WHILE, THERE WAS
A CERTAIN BIT OF SINGING

AND AS WE CAME CLOSER TO TOWN,

IT WAS MERELY THE
SILENCE OF THE FEET.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT
IN MY MIND,

AS WE WALKED BY A PLACE

WHERE THERE WERE WORKERS
OUT FOR THE NOON HOUR...

WHITE WORKERS.

AND THEY HAD NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THIS,

AND HERE WAS ALL OF 4,000 PEOPLE
MARCHING DOWN THE STREET.

AND ALL YOU COULD HEAR WAS THEIR
FEET AS WE SILENTLY MOVED.

AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO,

AND THEY MOVED BACK
UP AGAINST THE WALL.

AND THEY SIMPLY STOOD AGAINST
THE WALL, JUST LOOKING.

THERE WAS A FEAR THERE.

THERE WAS AN AWE.

AND THEY DID NOT KNOW
WHAT TO DO,

BUT THEY KNEW THAT THIS
WAS NOT TO BE STOPPED,

THIS WAS NOT TO BE PLAYED
WITH, OR TO BE JOKED WITH.

Narrator:
RACIAL ISSUES NOW THREATENED
TO TEAR THE CITY APART.

FACE TO FACE ON THE STEPS
OF CITY HALL,

REVEREND C.T. VIVIAN
CONDEMNED THE MAYOR

FOR HIS FAILURE TO SPEAK OUT
IN THE PAST.

DIANE NASH PUSHED BEN WEST
TO TAKE A PERSONAL STAND.

AND WE NEEDED HIM TO SAY,
"INTEGRATE THE COUNTERS."

OR TO TELL NASHVILLE TO DO

WHAT NASHVILLE KNOWS IT
SHOULD HAVE DONE

A LONG TIME AGO, LIKE ABOUT 95
YEARS AGO, AFTER THE CIVIL WAR.

SO I ASKED THE MAYOR,
FIRST OF ALL:

"MAYOR WEST, DO YOU
FEEL THAT IT'S WRONG

"TO DISCRIMINATE
AGAINST A PERSON

SOLELY ON THE BASIS
OF HIS RACE OR COLOR?"

THEY ASKED ME SOME PRETTY
SOUL-SEARCHING QUESTIONS

AND ONE THAT WAS
ADDRESSED TO ME AS A MAN.

AND I TRIED AS BEST I COULD TO
ANSWER IT FRANKLY AND HONESTLY

THAT I COULD NOT AGREE
THAT IT WAS MORALLY RIGHT

FOR SOMEONE TO SELL
THEM MERCHANDISE

AND REFUSE THEM SERVICE.

I WOULD ANSWER IT
IN THE SAME WAY AGAIN,

OF COURSE, I RECEIVED
CONSIDERABLE CRITICISM FOR IT,

BUT HAD I TO ANSWER IT AGAIN

BECAUSE IT WAS
A MORAL QUESTION

AND WAS ONE THAT A MAN
HAS TO ANSWER

AND NOT A POLITICIAN.

I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT
FOR THE WAY HE RESPONDED.

HE DIDN'T HAVE TO
RESPOND THE WAY HE DID.

HE SAID THAT HE FELT
LIKE IT WAS WRONG

FOR CITIZENS OF NASHVILLE
TO BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST

AT THE LUNCH COUNTERS

SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF
THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN.

AND I THINK THAT WAS
THE TURNING POINT.

Narrator:
THREE WEEKS AFTER
BEN WEST'S STATEMENT

ON THE STEPS OF CITY HALL,

BLACK CUSTOMERS WERE
SERVED FOR THE FIRST TIME

AT LUNCH COUNTERS
IN DOWNTOWN STORES.

SUPPORTED BY THE BLACK
COMMUNITY,

NASHVILLE'S COLLEGE AND
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

HAD DEMONSTRATED THEIR ABILITY

TO MOVE OUT IN FRONT OF
THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

THE NEXT BIG STEP IN THE
GROWTH OF THE STUDENT MOVEMENT

WOULD BE THE
FORMATION OF SNCC...

THE STUDENT NONVIOLENT
COORDINATING COMMITTEE.

IN THE SPRING OF 1960,

MORE THAN 200 VETERANS
OF THE SIT-IN MOVEMENT

FROM NASHVILLE AND FROM OTHER
CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY

ATTENDED AN
ORGANIZING CONFERENCE

IN RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA.

ON APRIL 15, THE STUDENTS MET
UNDER THE SPONSORSHIP

OF THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE.

BUT SCLC's ELLA BAKER
ADVISED THE STUDENTS

TO STAY INDEPENDENT
OF ADULT ORGANIZATIONS.

Nash:
ELLA BAKER WAS VERY IMPORTANT

GIVING DIRECTION TO
THE STUDENT MOVEMENT.

AND NOT GIVING DIRECTION IN
A WAY OF HER MAKING DECISIONS

AS TO WHAT THE
STUDENTS OUGHT TO DO,

BUT IN TERMS OF REALLY
SEEING HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS

TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT

THAT THE STUDENTS SHOULD
SET THE GOALS AND DIRECTIONS

AND MAINTAIN CONTROL
OF THE STUDENT MOVEMENT.

Narrator:
SNCC WAS BASED ON
A NEW OPTIMISM...

A FEELING THAT YOUTH COULD
BE A REAL FORCE FOR CHANGE

IN THE 1960s.

Frank Sinatra:
♪ EVERYONE IS VOTING FOR JACK ♪

♪ 'CAUSE HE'S GOT WHAT
ALL THE REST LACK ♪

♪ EVERYONE WANTS TO BACK JACK ♪

♪ JACK IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK ♪

♪ 'CAUSE HE'S GOT
HIGH HOPES... ♪

Narrator:
THE HARD-FOUGHT
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF 1960.

JOHN KENNEDY AND RICHARD NIXON
DID NOT DIFFER MUCH

IN THEIR MODERATE SUPPORT
FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.

BOTH CANDIDATES ALSO LOOKED
TO THE WHITE SOUTH FOR VOTES.

BUT CIVIL RIGHTS DID BECOME
A CAMPAIGN ISSUE

WHEN MARTIN LUTHER KING
WAS ARRESTED

AT A STUDENT SIT-IN IN ATLANTA.

KING'S SENTENCE TO
FOUR MONTHS' HARD LABOR

ENRAGED THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

KENNEDY AND NIXON
WERE STILL WARY

OF LOSING SOUTHERN WHITE VOTES

AND AVOIDED MAKING
PUBLIC STATEMENTS.

BUT PRIVATELY,
KENNEDY AND HIS STAFF

FELT THEY HAD TO TAKE ACTION.

Man:
THERE IS MARTIN LUTHER KING,
SITTING IN A COUNTY JAIL,

AND KENNEDY WANTED TO DO
SOMETHING, TO SAY SOMETHING.

FINALLY, SOME OF US HAD THE IDEA

THAT KENNEDY MIGHT
JUST CALL MRS. KING

AND EXPRESS HIS SYMPATHY

AND TELL HER WHAT HE WAS DOING
TO GET KING OUT OF JAIL.

HE SAID, "I'M THINKING
ABOUT YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND,

"AND I KNOW THIS MUST BE
VERY DIFFICULT FOR YOU.

"IF THERE'S ANYTHING
I CAN DO TO BE OF HELP,

I WANT YOU TO PLEASE FEEL FREE
TO CALL ON ME."

AND I DIDN'T QUITE KNOW
WHAT TO SAY

EXCEPT TO THANK HIM AND SAY,
"I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS

"AND IF THERE IS
ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO

I WOULD DEEPLY APPRECIATE IT."

AND THEN THAT VERY NIGHT

ROBERT KENNEDY CALLED
THE JUDGE IN GEORGIA

AND CALLED HIM TO GET THAT
JUDGE TO GET KING OUT OF JAIL.

Narrator:
THE KENNEDY PHONE CALLS

PROVED TO BE A SMART
POLITICAL MOVE.

THE NEXT DAY, KING
WAS RELEASED ON BAIL.

ON THE SUNDAY
BEFORE ELECTION DAY,

BLACK MINISTERS
AROUND THE COUNTRY

ENDORSED KENNEDY
FROM THEIR PULPITS.

IT WAS TO BE ONE OF
THE CLOSEST ELECTIONS

IN AMERICAN HISTORY,
WITH JOHN KENNEDY WINNING

BY LESS THAN TWO-THIRDS OF
ONE PERCENT OF THE POPULAR VOTE.

THAT KENNEDY'S COMMITMENT
TO CIVIL RIGHTS WAS POLITICAL,

THAT IT WAS A DEVICE
TO GET HIM ELECTED,

BECAUSE IN THE FIRST
SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS

HE HAD DONE VERY LITTLE.

LET ME ILLUSTRATE THAT.

DURING THE CAMPAIGN
HE HAD INDICATED

THAT THERE WAS ONE WHOLE AREA
OF DISCRIMINATION

THAT THE PRESIDENT
COULD WIPE OUT

WITH MERELY
A STROKE OF THE PEN,

AND THAT WAS THE AREA OF PUBLIC
HOUSING DISCRIMINATION.

AND IF ELECTED, HE WOULD
USE THAT STROKE OF THE PEN

BY ISSUING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER
THAT WOULD DO THE JOB.

WELL, WE WAITED FOR
MORE THAN A YEAR

FOR THAT STROKE OF THE PEN,

THEN DECIDED THAT HIS
PEN MUST HAVE RUN DRY.

Narrator:
THE CONGRESS OF RACIAL EQUALITY

WAS DETERMINED TO KEEP
THE PRESSURE ON KENNEDY.

CORE WANTED THE PRESIDENT

TO ENFORCE
TWO SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

BANNING SEGREGATED
INTERSTATE TRAVEL.

THESE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS
HAD BEEN LARGELY IGNORED

THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH.

IN 1961 BLACKS WERE STILL FORCED
TO RIDE IN THE BACK OF THE BUS

AND WERE SHUT OUT OF THE
"WHITE ONLY" WAITING ROOMS.

THE ADMINISTRATION HAD THE POWER
TO FORCE THE SOUTHERN STATES

TO OBEY THE LAW
THROUGH THE I.C.C.,

THE INTERSTATE
COMMERCE COMMISSION.

CORE DRAMATIZED THE NEED FOR
THE GOVERNMENT TO USE THAT POWER

WITH A TACTIC CALLED
"THE FREEDOM RIDES."

WE DECIDED THE WAY TO DO IT

WAS TO HAVE AN INTERRACIAL
GROUP RIDE THROUGH THE SOUTH.

THIS WAS NOT CIVIL
DISOBEDIENCE, REALLY,

BECAUSE WE WOULD BE DOING MERELY

WHAT THE SUPREME COURT
SAID WE HAD A RIGHT TO DO.

THE WHITES IN THE GROUP WOULD
SIT IN THE BACK OF THE BUS.

THE BLACKS WOULD SIT
IN THE FRONT OF THE BUS

AND WOULD REFUSE TO
MOVE WHEN ORDERED.

THE WHITES WOULD GO INTO
THE WAITING ROOM FOR BLACKS

AND THE BLACKS INTO THE
WAITING ROOM FOR WHITES

AND WOULD SEEK TO USE ALL THE
FACILITIES, REFUSING TO LEAVE.

AND WE FELT
THAT WE COULD THEN COUNT

UPON THE RACISTS OF THE SOUTH
TO CREATE A CRISIS

SO THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
WOULD BE COMPELLED

TO ENFORCE FEDERAL LAW.

AND THAT WAS THE RATIONALE
FOR THE FREEDOM RIDE.

Narrator:
THE FREEDOM RIDERS

WOULD BOARD TWO BUSES IN
WASHINGTON, D.C., ON MAY 4.

THEIR ITINERARY WOULD TAKE THEM
THROUGH THE DEEP SOUTH

AND ON TO NEW ORLEANS BY MAY 17.

I BELIEVE THE
FREEDOM RIDE STARTED

IN THE FIRST WEEK IN MAY
1961, IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

AS A MATTER OF FACT,
ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 3, 1961,

THIS GROUP OF 13 FREEDOM RIDERS,
SEVEN WHITES AND SIX BLACKS,

HAD A DINNER AT A CHINESE
RESTAURANT IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

IT WAS MY FIRST TIME
HAVING CHINESE FOOD.

AS SOMEONE BROUGHT UP
IN THE SOUTH

AND GOING TO SCHOOL
IN NASHVILLE,

I NEVER HAD CHINESE FOOD.

AND THIS MEAL WAS LIKE THE... TO
ME IT WAS LIKE THE LAST SUPPER,

BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T
KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT

GOING ON THE FREEDOM RIDE.

Narrator:
THE RIDERS ENCOUNTERED
ONLY MINOR RESISTANCE

AS THEY TRAVELED
THROUGH THE UPPER SOUTH.

ON MOTHER'S DAY, MAY 14,

TWO BUSES LEFT ATLANTA
FOR BIRMINGHAM.

♪ WE SHALL NOT ♪

♪ WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED... ♪

Narrator:
OUTSIDE OF ANNISTON,

A MOB FIRE-BOMBED THE LEAD BUS
AND BLOCKED THE EXITS.

♪ JUST LIKE A TREE THAT'S
STANDING BY THE WATER... ♪

Narrator:
TWELVE RIDERS WERE HOSPITALIZED.

THE BUS WAS DESTROYED.

THE SECOND BUS WAS
MET IN BIRMINGHAM

BY A MOB OF KLANSMEN.

FREEDOM RIDER JIM PECK TOOK
THE BRUNT OF THE BEATING.

THIS IS ROBERT SHACKNEY
IN BIRMINGHAM

AT THE HOME OF A NEGRO
CLERGYMAN.

AND WITH ME ARE PART OF A GROUP

CALLING THEMSELVES
THE FREEDOM RIDERS...

AN INTERRACIAL GROUP TRAVELING
THROUGH THE DEEP SOUTH

TO CHALLENGE SOME OF THE
SEGREGATED BUS FACILITIES

IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY.

YESTERDAY, THEY RAN INTO
TROUBLE, THEY RAN INTO VIOLENCE.

TODAY THEY SAY THEY INTEND
TO KEEP UP THEIR PILGRIMAGE.

MR. PECK, YOU OBVIOUSLY
HAVE BEEN INJURED.

YOU'RE
WEARING BANDAGES.

ONCE ABOARD THE BUS AND ONCE
IN THE TERMINAL IN BIRMINGHAM.

I GOT BEATEN TWICE
YESTERDAY BY HOODLUMS...

WE CAN'T ACT AS
NURSEMAIDS TO AGITATORS.

UH...

I THINK WHEN THEY LEARN

THAT WHEN THEY GO SOMEWHERE
TO CREATE A RIOT

THAT THERE IS NOT GOING
TO BE SOMEBODY THERE

TO STAND BETWEEN
THEM AND THE OTHER CROWD,

THAT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE
WITH THIS TYPE OF INDIVIDUAL.

WHY, THEY... YOU SEE,
THEY ARE ALWAYS SEEKING

THE HELP OF THE POLICE
TO PROTECT THEM,

BUT THEY ARE THE FIRST
TO CRITICIZE THE POLICE

WHEN THE POLICE ARE
UNABLE TO PROTECT THEM.

AND YOU JUST CAN'T GUARANTEE
THE SAFETY OF A FOOL,

AND THAT'S WHAT THESE
FOLKS ARE, JUST FOOLS.

WE HAD HOPED THAT THERE
WOULD BE PROTECTION.

INDEED, THAT WAS ONE
OF THE REASONS

THEY SENT A LETTER TO THE FBI.

WE HAD THOUGHT THAT THE FBI
WOULD PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR US,

WOULD SEE TO IT AT EACH STOP
THAT WE WERE NOT BRUTALIZED

OR KILLED.

BUT THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.

THE FBI HAD INFORMATION,
IT TURNS OUT,

THAT WAS QUITE SPECIFIC

ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING
TO HAPPEN IN BIRMINGHAM.

THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD
SIMILAR INFORMATION

ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING
TO HAPPEN IN ANNISTON,

BUT I'M NOT SURE OF THAT.

BUT THEY CLEARLY HAD ADVANCE
INFORMATION FROM KLAN SOURCES

THAT THE FREEDOM RIDERS
WERE GOING TO BE ATTACKED

IN THE BUS STATION AT BIRMINGHAM

AND THAT THE BIRMINGHAM POLICE
WERE GOING TO ABSENT THEMSELVES

AND NOT DO ANYTHING
TO PROTECT THE RIDERS.

THE BUREAU KNEW THAT.

THE BUREAU DIDN'T PASS
THAT INFORMATION ALONG

TO ANYBODY IN ANY OTHER
PART OF THE DEPARTMENT.

Narrator:
CORE RIDERS BOARDED
A PLANE TO NEW ORLEANS

AFTER BUS DRIVERS REFUSED
TO TAKE THEM ANY FURTHER.

IT APPEARED THE
FREEDOM RIDE WAS OVER.

BUT THE SNCC STUDENTS
FROM NASHVILLE

DECIDED THE RIDE MUST CONTINUE.

YOU KNOW, IF THE FREEDOM RIDE
HAD BEEN STOPPED

AS A RESULT OF VIOLENCE,

I STRONGLY FELT THAT THE
FUTURE OF THE MOVEMENT

WAS GOING TO BE JUST CUT SHORT,

BECAUSE THE IMPRESSION
WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN

THAT WHENEVER A MOVEMENT STARTS,

ALL THAT HAS TO BE DONE
IS THAT YOU ATTACK IT...

MASSIVE VIOLENCE, AND
THE BLACKS WOULD STOP.

IT WAS AT THAT POINT,

AFTER THE SNCC STUDENTS FROM
NASHVILLE WENT INTO BIRMINGHAM,

THAT BOBBY KENNEDY,
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL,

BECAME REALLY INVOLVED IN IT.

DRIVERS WALKED OFF THE JOB
AND WOULD NOT DRIVE THE BUS,

AND KENNEDY GOT ON THE PHONE AND
CALLED DOWN TO THE BUS TERMINAL

DEMANDING THAT THEY FIND
A DRIVER.

"WHERE IS MR. GREYHOUND?"
HE STORMED.

"CAN'T HE DRIVE A BUS?"

ROBERT KENNEDY STARTED
CALLING ME ON THE TELEPHONE.

ROBERT STARTED CALLING

THE PRESIDENT OF THE
GREYHOUND BUS COMPANY,

MAKING DEMANDS ON THEM.

THEY HAD TROUBLE GETTING
DRIVERS TO DRIVE THE BUSES,

BECAUSE THEY WERE
CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR BUSES

AND THEMSELVES, I GUESS.

BUT FINALLY, EVERY TIME
I WOULD TALK TO ROBERT,

I WOULD IMMEDIATELY
READ IN THE PAPER

OR HEAR ON THE WIRE SERVICE

QUOTES FROM HIS OFFICE
AND FROM THE WHITE HOUSE

SAYING THAT I SAID
CERTAIN THINGS.

AND MANY TIMES, IT WOULD BE
THINGS THAT I DID NOT SAY.

Narrator:
WHEN PATTERSON
REFUSED TO TALK FURTHER,

KENNEDY SENT SPECIAL ASSISTANT
JOHN SEIGENTHALER TO ALABAMA.

FINALLY, GOVERNOR PATTERSON
DID AGREE TO A MEETING.

AND I WENT DOWN FROM BIRMINGHAM
TO MONTGOMERY TO MEET WITH HIM.

WENT INTO THAT
ANTEBELLUM BUILDING

THAT IS THE STATE CAPITOL THERE.

HE HAD ME INTO HIS OFFICE,

HAD HIS WHOLE CABINET

SEATED AROUND THIS
GREAT CONFERENCE TABLE.

ROBERT WAS INSISTING
ON A GUARANTEE FROM US

THAT NONE OF THEM
WOULD BE BOTHERED

OR NONE OF THEM WOULD BE
INJURED.

AND OF COURSE, YOU COULDN'T
GIVE A GUARANTEE LIKE THAT

FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GOING
TO DO WHAT YOU SAY,

ARE NOT GOING TO OBEY
THE POLICE,

WHO ARE OUT LOOKING FOR
DIFFICULTY AND TROUBLE.

MY DUTY AS A FEDERAL
OFFICER WAS TO INFORM HIM

THAT IF THE STATE COULD
NOT PROTECT CITIZENS

OF THE UNITED STATES,

EITHER IN THE CITIES
OR ON THE HIGHWAYS,

THAT IT WAS
A FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITY

AND THAT WE WERE PREPARED
TO ASSERT IT

BUT THAT WE HOPED
WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO.

HE SAID HE WAS NOT SURE THAT
SAFE CONDUCT COULD BE GIVEN

TO THESE "AGITATORS,"
AS HE CALLED THEM.

FLOYD MANN THEN BROKE IN
AND SAID,

"GOVERNOR, AS YOUR CHIEF
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER,

"I ASSURE YOU, IF YOU GIVE ME
THE RESPONSIBILITY,

I CAN PROTECT THEM."

THAT WAS THE FIRST BREAKTHROUGH.

I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED

WITH MR. SEIGENTHALER'S
SEEMINGLY SINCERE EFFORTS

TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER.

AND HE PUSHED REAL HARD
TO GET AN ANSWER...

ABOUT COULD THE GOVERNOR
GUARANTEE

THE SAFETY OF THESE PEOPLE.

THE GOVERNOR WAS JUST AS ADAMANT
NOT TO GIVE THAT COMMITMENT.

SO AT THAT POINT IN
TIME, I CERTAINLY FELT

THAT BY HAVING BEEN
APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR

THAT I CERTAINLY SHOULD
ASSURE THEM AT THAT TIME

THAT I FELT THAT LAW AND ORDER
COULD PREVAIL IN ALABAMA.

Narrator:
MAY 20, THE NEW CONTINGENT
OF 21 FREEDOM RIDERS

RECEIVED WORD THAT
ALABAMA WOULD PROTECT THEM.

Lewis:
8:30, SATURDAY MORNING,

WE UNDERSTOOD THAT AN
ARRANGEMENT HAD BEEN WORKED OUT

BETWEEN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
AND THE OFFICIALS OF GREYHOUND

AND THE OFFICIALS OF
THE STATE OF ALABAMA

WHERE WE WOULD BOARD THE BUS

WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS
OR PASSENGERS

AND THERE WOULD BE TWO
OFFICIALS OF GREYHOUND;

A PRIVATE PLANE WOULD
FLY OVER THE BUS;

THERE WOULD BE A STATE PATROL
CAR EVERY 15 OR 20 MILES

ALONG THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN
BIRMINGHAM AND MONTGOMERY...

ABOUT 90 MILES.

WE GOT ON THE BUS

AND A GREAT MANY OF THE
RIDERS LITERALLY TOOK A NAP.

THEY WENT TO SLEEP.

I TOOK A SEAT ON... THE FRONT
SEAT, RIGHT BEHIND THE DRIVER,

WITH A YOUNG MAN BY THE NAME OF
JIM ZWERG, A YOUNG WHITE GUY.

I WAS A SPOKESMAN FOR THIS
PARTICULAR GROUP OF RIDERS.

AND WE DID SEE THE PLANE.

BUT I WOULD SAY
ABOUT 40 MILES OR LESS

FROM THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY,

ALL SIGN OF PROTECTION
DISAPPEARED.

THERE WAS NO PLANE,
NO PATROL CAR...

AND WHEN WE ARRIVED
AT THE BUS STATION,

IT WAS JUST AN EERIE,
JUST A STRANGE FEELING.

IT WAS SO QUIET, SO PEACEFUL...
NOTHING.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,

JUST LIKE WHOOSH... MAGIC...

WHITE PEOPLE, STICKS AND BRICKS.

"NIGGER! KILL THE NIGGERS."

WE WERE STILL ON
THE BUS, YOU KNOW?

BUT I THINK WE ALL
KIND OF DECIDED

WELL, MAYBE WE SHOULD GO OFF
THE BACK OF THIS BUS

BECAUSE WE KIND OF KNEW

THAT IF WE HAD GONE
OFF THE BACK OF THE BUS

THAT MAYBE THEY WOULDN'T
BE SO BAD ON US.

THEY WANTED US TO GO
OFF THE BACK OF THE BUS

AND WE DECIDED NO, NO.

WE'LL GO OFF THE FRONT AND
TAKE WHAT'S COMING TO US.

WE WENT OFF THE FRONT
OF THE BUS.

JIM ZWERG WAS... WHITE FELLOW
FROM MADISON, WISCONSIN.

HE HAD A LOT OF NERVE,

AND I THINK THAT'S
WHAT SAVED ME...

BERNARD LAFAYETTE, ALLEN CASON,

BECAUSE JIM ZWERG WALKED
OFF THE BUS IN FRONT OF US.

AND THEY WERE SO...

IT WAS LIKE THEY WERE POSSESSED
BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE

THAT THERE WAS A WHITE
MAN WHO WOULD HELP US.

AND THEY GRABBED HIM AND
PULLED HIM INTO THE MOB.

I MEAN, IT WAS A MOB.

WHEN WE CAME OFF THE BUS,
THEY WERE SO...

THEIR ATTENTION WAS ON HIM.

IT'S LIKE THEY DIDN'T
SEE THE REST OF US.

FOR LIKE ABOUT MAYBE 30 SECONDS,
THEY DIDN'T SEE US...

THEY DIDN'T SEE US AT ALL, AND
WE WERE HEMMED UP BY THIS RAIL.

THERE WAS A RAIL RIGHT THERE
AT THE BUS STATION;

PARKING LOT DOWN BELOW,
CARS DOWN THERE.

WHEN THEY DID TURN TOWARD
US, WE HAD A CHOICE...

ABOUT TEN OR 15 FEET BELOW...

WE COULD STAND
THERE AND TAKE IT

OR WE COULD GO OVER THE RAIL.

OVER THE RAIL WE WENT,
ME AND BERNARD LAFAYETTE.

ALLEN CASON, ALWAYS CARRIED
HIS LITTLE TYPEWRITER,

ALWAYS HAD HIS TYPEWRITER.

OVER THE RAIL HE WENT, ON TOP
OF A CAR, HIT THE GROUND,

TOOK OFF, RAN INTO THE BACK
OF THIS BUILDING.

IT WAS THE POST OFFICE.

AND THE PEOPLE WERE IN THERE
CARRYING ON THE BUSINESS

JUST LIKE NOTHING WAS
HAPPENING OUTSIDE.

BUT WHEN WE CAME THROUGH THERE,
MAIL WENT FLYING EVERYWHERE,

BECAUSE WE WERE RUNNING.

AS I DROVE ALONG,

I SAW TWO YOUNG WOMEN
WHO WERE FREEDOM RIDERS

BEING PUMMELED, TO ONE SIDE.

THERE WAS A WOMAN
WHO WAS WALKING ALONG

BEHIND ONE OF THESE YOUNG WOMEN.

SHE HAD A PURSE ON A STRAP

AND SHE WAS BEATING
HER OVER THE HEAD.

A YOUNG, SKINNY BLOND TEENAGER
IN A T-SHIRT

WAS SORT OF DANCING
BACKWARD IN FRONT OF HER,

PUNCHING HER IN THE FACE.

INSTINCTIVELY, I JUST
BUMPED UP ONTO THE SIDEWALK,

BLEW THE HORN, JUMPED
OUT OF THE CAR, CAME AROUND,

GRABBED THE ONE
WHO WAS BEING HIT,

TOOK HER BACK TO THE CAR.

THE OTHER YOUNG WOMAN GOT
IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR.

AND I OPENED THE DOOR,

PUSHED THIS YOUNG WOMAN, WHOSE
NAME I THINK WAS SUSAN WILBUR,

AND SAID, "GET IN THE CAR."

SHE SAID, "MISTER, THIS IS NOT
YOUR FIGHT.

I'M NONVIOLENT.
DON'T GET HURT BECAUSE OF ME."

I ALMOST GOT AWAY WITH HER.

IF SHE'D GOTTEN INTO THE CAR, I
THINK I COULD HAVE GOTTEN AWAY.

BUT THAT MOMENT OF
HESITATION GAVE THE MOB

A CHANCE TO COLLECT THEIR WITS.

AND ONE GRABBED ME BY THE ARM,
WHEELED ME AROUND

AND SAID,
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?"

AND I SAID, "GET BACK,
I'M A FEDERAL MAN,"

TURNED BACK TO HER,
AND THE LIGHTS WENT OUT.

I WAS HIT WITH A PIPE
OVER THIS EAR.

WE HEARD THE NEWS ABOUT
JIM ZWERG, ABOUT JOHN LEWIS,

ABOUT WILLIAM BARBEE.

WILLIAM BARBEE WAS
DAMAGED FOR LIFE, REALLY.

JIM ZWERG FOR LIFE.

IT'S AMAZING THAT
THEY'RE STILL LIVING.

THEY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.

SEGREGATION MUST BE STOPPED.

IT MUST BE BROKEN DOWN.

THOSE OF US WHO ARE
ON THE FREEDOM RIDE,

WE WILL CONTINUE
THE FREEDOM RIDE.

I'M NOT SURE THAT
I'LL BE ABLE TO,

BUT WE'RE GOING
ON TO NEW ORLEANS

NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.

WE'RE DEDICATED TO THIS.

WE'LL TAKE HITTING,
WE'LL TAKE BEATING.

WE'RE WILLING TO ACCEPT DEATH.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP
COMING UNTIL WE CAN RIDE

FROM ANYWHERE IN THE SOUTH
TO ANYPLACE ELSE IN THE SOUTH

WITHOUT ANYBODY
MAKING ANY COMMENTS,

JUST AS AMERICAN CITIZENS.

Narrator:
DESPITE FLOYD MANN'S
PERSONAL EFFORTS,

MONTGOMERY POLICE DID
NOT PROTECT THE RIDERS.

ROBERT KENNEDY NOW ORDERED
UNITED STATES MARSHALS

INTO MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE
OUTSIDE MONTGOMERY.

AS SOON AS THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS SHOWN BY ACTION

THAT THE STATE OF ALABAMA

CAN DEAL WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT ON THEIR OWN,

THE U.S. MARSHALS
WILL BE OUT OF THERE.

AND I THINK THIS:

I THINK THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S POSITION

HAS BEEN ONE
WHICH HAS ENCOURAGED

THESE OUTSIDE AGITATORS
TO COME IN TO OUR STATE.

THIS ENCOURAGEMENT HAS
HELPED CREATE THE PROBLEM

NOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMES
IN HERE AND ILLEGALLY INTERFERES

IN A DOMESTIC STATE MATTER,

IN A MATTER WHICH THEY
THEMSELVES HAVE HELPED CREATE.

Narrator:
THAT WEEKEND, WHILE 600 MARSHALS
TOOK THEIR POSITIONS,

MARTIN LUTHER KING FLEW IN
TO LEAD A RALLY

AT THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

SUNDAY NIGHT...

MOST OF THE LEADERSHIP
OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

GATHERED IN SUPPORT
OF THE FREEDOM RIDERS.

ON THE STREETS AN ANGRY MOB
SURROUNDED THE CHURCH,

THREATENING ALL THOSE INSIDE.

NOW, WE'VE HAD AN
UGLY MOB OUTSIDE.

THEY HAVE INJURED SOME
OF THE FEDERAL MARSHALS.

THEY'VE BURNED SOME AUTOMOBILES.

BUT WE ARE NOT,
WE ARE NOT GIVING IN

FOR WHAT WE ARE STANDING FOR

AND MAYBE IT TAKES
SOMETHING LIKE THIS

FOR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO SEE

THAT ALABAMA IS NOT GOING TO
PLACE ANY LIMIT UPON ITSELF.

IT MUST BE IMPOSED FROM WITHOUT.

Narrator:
KING TELEPHONED ROBERT KENNEDY

TO REPORT ON THE
ESCALATING VIOLENCE.

KENNEDY CALLED GOVERNOR
PATTERSON, DEMANDING PROTECTION.

THE GOVERNOR REPLIED THAT HE
COULD NOT GUARANTEE THE SAFETY

OF MARTIN LUTHER KING.

TEAR GAS FROM THE BATTLE OUTSIDE
BEGAN SEEPING INTO THE CHURCH.

THE FIRST THING THAT
WE MUST DO HERE TONIGHT

IS TO DECIDE THAT WE AREN'T
GOING TO BECOME PANICKY;

THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE CALM

AND THAT WE ARE
GOING TO CONTINUE

TO STAND UP FOR
WHAT WE KNOW IS RIGHT

AND THAT ALABAMA WILL
HAVE TO FACE THE FACT

THAT WE ARE
DETERMINED TO BE FREE.

THE MAIN THING I WANT TO
SAY TO YOU IS "FEAR NOT."

WE'VE GONE TOO FAR TO TURN BACK.

LET US BE CALM.

WE ARE TOGETHER.

WE ARE NOT AFRAID.

AND WE SHALL OVERCOME.

Man:
JUST WAIT ONE MINUTE.

IT IS A SIN AND
A SHAME BEFORE GOD

IN A DAY LIKE THIS

THAT THESE PEOPLE WHO GOVERN US

WOULD LET THINGS COME
TO SUCH A SAD ESTATE.

THE MOST GUILTY MAN
IN THIS STATE TONIGHT

Narrator:
AT 2:00 A.M., WITH THE
OUTNUMBERED FEDERAL MARSHALS

BARELY HOLDING THE LINE,

GOVERNOR PATTERSON
DECLARED MARTIAL LAW

AND ORDERED IN STATE POLICE

AND THE ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD.

THE KENNEDYS HAD NOT BEEN FORCED

TO SEND IN AN
INVADING FEDERAL ARMY.

THESE TROOPS WERE ALABAMA'S OWN.

THE PEOPLE IN THE FIRST
BAPTIST CHURCH WERE SAFE.

IT HAD ALL HAPPENED QUICKLY.

IN LITTLE MORE THAN TWO WEEKS
SINCE THE RIDES BEGAN,

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
AND NOW THE STATE OF ALABAMA

HAD BEEN FORCED TO PROTECT

THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
OF THE FREEDOM RIDERS.

MONTGOMERY, MAY 24...

JUST TWO DAYS AFTER THE SIEGE
AT THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH,

ALABAMA GUARDSMEN WERE DEPLOYED

AROUND THE MONTGOMERY
BUS TERMINAL

TO PROTECT 27 FREEDOM RIDERS
LEAVING ON TWO BUSES

FOR JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI.

AT EVERY RESSTOP

Farmer:
THAT RIDE FROM
MONTGOMERY TO JACKSON

WAS LIKE A MILITARY OPERATION.

AS WE RODE ON THE BUS,

THERE WERE ALABAMA NATIONAL
GUARDSMEN ON THE BUS WITH US...

ABOUT SIX OF THEM, WITH
BAYONETS FIXED ON THEIR RIFLES.

THERE WERE HELICOPTERS
CHOPPING AROUND OVERHEAD.

THERE WERE POLICE CARS SCREAMING
UP AND DOWN THE HIGHWAY

WITH THEIR SIRENS BLARING.

WE GOT TO THE BORDER BETWEEN
ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI

AND SAW THAT FAMOUS SIGN...

"WELCOME TO THE MAGNOLIA STATE."

OUR HEARTS JUMPED
INTO OUR MOUTHS.

AND THERE WERE MISSISSIPPI
NATIONAL GUARDSMEN

FLANKING THE HIGHWAY
AT THIS POINT

WITH THEIR GUNS POINTED
TOWARD THE FORESTS

ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD.

AND THE BUS PROCEEDED ON
INTO THE ENVIRONS OF JACKSON

AND THEN JACKSON.

ONE OF THE FREEDOM
RIDERS BROKE INTO SONG...

"AND THIS WAS AS
IT HAD TO BE."

I CAN'T SING, I WISH I COULD.

BUT HIS WORDS
WENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS:

♪ I'M TAKING A RIDE ON
THE GREYHOUND BUS LINE ♪

♪ I'M A-RIDING THE FRONT
SEAT TO JACKSON THIS TIME ♪

♪ HALLELUJAH, I'M A-TRAVELIN' ♪

♪ HALLELUJAH, AIN'T IT FINE ♪

♪ HALLELUJAH, I'M A-TRAVELIN' ♪

♪ DOWN FREEDOM'S MAIN LINE. ♪

Man:
♪ I WAS READIN' THE NEWS
THE SUPREME COURT HAD SAID ♪

♪ LISTEN HERE, MR. JIM CROW ♪

♪ IT'S TIME YOU WERE DEAD ♪

♪ HALLELUJAH, I'M A-TRAVELIN' ♪

♪ HALLELUJAH, AIN'T IT FINE ♪

♪ HALLELUJAH, I'M A-TRAVELIN' ♪

♪ DOWN FREEDOM'S MAIN LINE ♪

♪ I'M TAKING A RIDE ON
THE GREYHOUND BUS LINE ♪

♪ I'M RIDING THE FRONT
SEAT TO JACKSON THIS TIME ♪

♪ HALLELUJAH, I'M A-TRAVELIN' ♪

♪ HALLELUJAH, AIN'T IT FINE ♪

♪ HALLELUJAH, I'M A-TRAVELIN' ♪

♪ DOWN FREEDOM'S MAIN LINE. ♪

IN JACKSON, THERE
WERE ONLY POLICE

OUTSIDE THE TERMINAL,
INSIDE THE TERMINAL.

AS WE WALKED THROUGH,

THE POLICE JUST SAID,
"KEEP MOVING."

THEY LET US GO THROUGH
THE WHITE SIDE.

WE NEVER GOT TO STOP;
THEY JUST SAID "KEEP MOVING."

AND THEY PASSED US RIGHT ON
THROUGH THE WHITE TERMINAL

INTO THE PADDY WAGON,
AND INTO JAIL.

THERE WAS NO VIOLENCE
IN MISSISSIPPI.

Narrator:
ATTORNEY GENERAL ROBERT KENNEDY

HAD MADE A DEAL WITH
MISSISSIPPI AUTHORITIES.

HE WOULD NOT ENFORCE
THE SUPREME COURT DECISION

GIVING THE RIDERS THE RIGHT

TO USE ANY PUBLIC AREA
IN THE BUS STATION.

IN RETURN, MISSISSIPPI WOULD
MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO VIOLENCE.

KENNEDY AVOIDED BLOODSHED.

BUT BY GIVING IN TO
MISSISSIPPI'S SEGREGATION LAWS,

HE PUT THE FREEDOM RIDERS

AT THE MERCY OF THE LOCAL
POLICE AND LOCAL JUDGES.

Leonard:
THE NEXT DAY AFTER WE WERE
ARRESTED IN JACKSON,

THE PROSECUTOR GOT UP, ACCUSED
US OF TRESPASSING,

TOOK HIS SEAT.

OUR ATTORNEY, JACK YOUNG,
GOT UP TO DEFEND US

AS HUMAN BEINGS HAVING THE RIGHT
TO BE TREATED

LIKE HUMAN BEINGS.

WHILE HE WAS DEFENDING US,
THE JUDGE TURNED HIS BACK,

LOOKED AT THE WALL.

WHEN HE FINISHED,
THE JUDGE TURNED AROUND...

BAM, 60 DAYS IN THE
STATE PENITENTIARY...

AND THERE WE WERE,
ON THE WAY TO PARCHMAN.

MAXIMUM SECURITY.

Narrator:
AFTER THE FIRST
ARREST ON MAY 24, 1961,

FREEDOM RIDERS CONTINUED
TO POUR INTO JACKSON.

BY SUMMER'S END, 300 HAD
BEEN ARRESTED AND SENTENCED.

YOU'RE UNDER ARREST,
GET YOUR HANDS UP.

Narrator:
THAT SAME SUMMER,

ROBERT KENNEDY PETITIONED THE
INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION

TO ISSUE REGULATIONS
BANNING SEGREGATION

IN INTERSTATE TRAVEL.

IN LATE SEPTEMBER,
THE COMMISSION COMPLIED.

♪ WOKE UP THIS MORNING WITH
MY MIND SET ON FREEDOM ♪

♪ I WOKE UP THIS MORNING
WITH MY MIND SET ON FREEDOM. ♪

Narrator:
THE STUDENTS HAD
WON THEIR VICTORY

AND THEY HAD BECOME
A MAJOR FORCE

IN AMERICA'S CIVIL
RIGHTS MOVEMENT,

EXPERIENCED IN DIRECT
ACTION AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.

IN THE PENITENTIARY, PARCHMAN,

WE WERE ONLY ALLOWED ONE
BOOK; THAT WAS THE BIBLE.

SO WE DID A LOT OF SINGING.

PRAYING, TOO,
BUT A LOT OF SINGING.

THOSE FOLKS JUST
COULDN'T UNDERSTAND

HOW WE COULD BE HAPPY, SINGING,

SO THEY WOULD SAY,
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP!"

WE COULD HEAR THE WOMEN
ON THE OTHER SIDE.

THEY'D SING TO US
AND WE'D SING TO THEM.

SO THEY CAME THROUGH AND SAID,

"WELL, IF YOU DON'T SHUT UP,
WE'LL TAKE YOUR MATTRESSES."

THAT DIDN'T BOTHER US.

WE KEPT SINGING.

SO THEY CAME THROUGH
AND TOOK OUR MATTRESSES.

I LET MY MATTRESS GO,
EVERYBODY LET THEIR MATTRESS GO.

THE NEXT NIGHT THEY GAVE
US OUR MATTRESSES BACK.

SO, WE START SINGING AGAIN.

THEY THREATEN US AGAIN.

"WE WILL TAKE YOUR MATTRESSES

AND YOU WILL HAVE TO SLEEP ON
THAT STEEL WITHOUT A MATTRESS."

AND YOU ONLY HAD A PAIR OF
SHORTS AND A LITTLE T-SHIRT ON.

WE KEPT SINGING FREEDOM SONGS.

"FREEDOM'S COMIN'
AND IT WON'T BE LONG."

THEY CAME THROUGH A CELL BLOCK.

STOKELY CARMICHAEL
WAS MY CELL MATE.

I TOLD STOKELY, "I'M NOT
LETTING MY MATTRESS GO."

EVERYBODY PEACEFULLY
LET THEIR MATTRESS GO,

BUT I REMEMBERED
THE NIGHT BEFORE

WHEN I HAD TO
SLEEP ON THAT STEEL.

SO THEY CAME IN
TO TAKE MY MATTRESS.

I WAS HOLDING MY MATTRESS.

THEY DRAGGED ME OUT
INTO THE CELL BLOCK.

I STILL HAD MY MATTRESS,
I WASN'T TURNING IT LOOSE.

AND ONE OF THE INMATES...

THEY WOULD USE THE BLACK INMATES
TO COME AND GET OUR MATTRESSES.

I MEAN THE INMATES, YOU KNOW?

THERE WAS THIS GUY, PEEWEE,
THEY CALLED HIM,

SHORT AND MUSCULAR.

THEY SAID, "PEEWEE, GET HIM!"

PEEWEE CAME DOWN
ON MY HEAD, MAN.

WHOMP! WHOMP!

HE WAS CRYING,
PEEWEE WAS CRYING.

I STILL HELD MY MATTRESS.

YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOUR PARENTS
USED TO WHIP YOU AND SAY:

"IT'S GOING TO HURT ME
MORE THAN IT'LL HURT YOU"?

IT HURT PEEWEE MORE
THAN IT HURT ME.