The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project
SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
208 Auburn Avenue, N. E.
Atlanta 3, Georgia
REPORT OF MEETING FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1961
NOTE:
Meeting called by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to explore
developments related to the Freedom Ride and to consider action based on
long and short-range objectives.
PRESENT.:
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., President
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Mr. Gordon Carey
Congress of Racial Equality
Rev. Kelley M. Smith
Nashville Christian Leadership Council
Rev. Metz Robbins
Nashville Christian Leadership Council
Miss Constance Curry
National Student Association
Mr. Edward King
Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee
Mr. Len Holt, Attorney
i
Norfolk, Virginia
Rev. A..D. King
Atlanta, Georgia
Mr. James R. Wood
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
PLACE: Education Building, Ebenezer Church
Atlanta, Georgia
Dr. King presided as chairman. Discussion was free and informal.
Decisions were unanimous in every instance. It was not recommended that
a formal report be written.
LONG-RANGE OBJECTIVE :
I
'.I
'.I
.
To continue the Freedom Ride program until safe, secure interstate
travel can be enjoyed throughout the nation by all citizens and other
'I
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I
persons legally entitled t o this constitutional privilege.
IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE:
To intensify the Freedom Ride so that national public attention can
be brought to examine the denial of legal rights of interstate travellers
by certain citizens and public officials in the,hard-coreSouthern states.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project
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The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project
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To create a committee which will be empowered to organize, coordinate,
schedule and otherwise implement the travel of E'reedom Riders. To meet the
issues and bring a strong ruling from the Attorney General in clearly establishing the rights of interstate travelers (possibly) through an order to
To fill jails of Montgomery and Jackson
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
in order to keep a sharp image of the issues before the public.
FRmDOM AIDE COORD1N:iTING
COl'fndITTZZ :
This Committee will consist of four (4) permanent members:
Gordon
Carey, Congress of Racial Zquality; ';iyattT. YialkeT Southern Christian
Leadership Conference; Diane Nash, Nashville Christian Leadership Council;
and Edward King, Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee.
This Committee will not have a chairman. Each member will sit and
function equally in the execution of the responsibilities o f the Committee.
The working relationships of the members will be informal and decisions
reached by general agreement. Since its members will not all be present
in the conduct of business, mail and telephone communication will be
used for contact.
Reports of activities including fund raising, ex-
penditures, progress, etc., will be made to the organizations represented
in the Committee.
The frequency of reports will be determined by the
Committee itself.
ORGANIZATION:
The Freedom Ride Coordinating committee will maintain four (4)
offices: Atlanta, Georgiab Montgomery, Alabama, Jackson, Mississippi,
and New Orleans, Louisiana. Through these offices the Committee will
recruit, schedule, coordin-te, provide cost of transportation and attend
to other details relpting to participation in the Freedom Ride. These
offices will use telephone and mail for intercommunication..
FINANCE:
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Congress of Racial
Equality have each agreed to deposit $1,000.00 to an account with Vestern
Union Telegraph Corporation in Atlanta, Georgia, to be used on a 24 hour
basis in meeting financial needs.
The procedures for withdrawl of these
funds will be established by the Cornittee.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project
. ..
MATERIAL MAY BE .
PROTECTED BY COPYRINE .u\W
(TITLE l.7 U.S. CODE)
,
. .
. .
. ,
IncE: THIS
.. .
.
.'
..
1
.
,
.....
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.
.
.
...
Orltlnal In the Boston Universlv LlbrerJ
Piihllcatlon germlssian inus! b e secured fnm !ha [IhrJrr
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The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project
..
-3Wyatt T. Walker, of Southern Christian Leadership Conference is designnted
as custodian of funds for the Freedom Ride Coordinating Committee. The
Southern Christian Leadership Conference has agreed to subsidize the telephone and other minor operational costs of the Atlanta and Montgomery offices.
The Congress of Racial Equality has agreed to subsidize the costs of telephone and other minor operational expenses of the Jackson, Mississippi and
New Orleans offices.
LITIGATIONr
It was further agreed that Congress of Racial Equality and Southern
Christian Leadership Conference would engage in fund raising for the purpose of underwriting legal expenses incurred by Freedom Riding. The details
of the fund raising to be worked out by,each organization: The entitlement
of each organization to raise funds for its own use in this matter is not
to be restricted except as indicated else where in this report. In order
to meet with equity the legal costs arising from Freedom Riding, Southern
Christian Leadership Conference and Congress of Racial Equality have
agreed to act at a later date on the method to be used in apportioning
these costs between themselves. The uncertainty of developments in the areas
of activity makes this necessary.
PUBLIC RELATIONS:
It was further agreed that publicity concerning the Freedom Ride
would originate in the Cobittee and thnt publicity would clecrly establish Congress of Racial Equality as the originator of the Freedom Ride,
continuing its program with the assistance of the Student Non-Violent
Coordinating Committee, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the
Nashville Christian Leadership Council.
The details and other decisions
to be made concerning publicity relative to the Freedom Ride will originate
in the Committee and be executed by 'the Committee. This is not to be
construed as restricting all publicity concerning Freedom Rides to the
Committee. Each Organization will be free to publicize its particular
share of participation in the general program.
PROGRAM:
The following suggestions were made as possible elements in the
development of the Freedom Ride program.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project
i.
ncE: THISMATERIAL my BE
I.
."
.
I
.
. .
.
PROTECTED BY COPYRlVF
(TITLE l.7 U.S. CODD
.MW
OrlElnal
In the
Bosion Universlb Llbraq
Piihllcaflon permission must be secured fnn lha
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project
Y
-4-
(1) To arrange a conference with the President of the United States for the
possibility of discussing various aspects of the Freedom Ride.
If in the
event the President will not grant a conference, then the Attorney General
will be approached for the saiile purpose.
(2) Sfforts should be made, with-
out publicity, to meet with the Governors of Alabama and Mississippi for
the purpose of reaching general working agreements within the jbrisdiction
of federal laws affecting interstate travel and the use of facilities in
those states. In the event replies are not received in answer to requests
f o r these meetings, full publicity will be given after a suitable waiting
period has expired.
FUND FUiISING:
The Freedom Ride Coordinating Committee vi11 conduct joint rallies to
raise funds for the general program.
Respectfully Submitted For the
Freedom Ride Coordinating
Committee By:
n
J&J$’S
R. ‘.iood
Adninistrative Ass istant to the
Ppesident, Southern Christian
Leadership Conference
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project
J:
....
I
ncE: THIS
MATERIALMAY BE .
PROTECTED BY COPYRIgR u\W
nITE U U.S. CODE)
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project
RSHIP CONFERENCE
e,
lVSE-
Atlanta 3, Georgia
i
REPORT OF MEETING FRIDAY, MAY 26, ,2961
NOTE:
Meeting called by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to explore
developments related to the Freedom Ridkand to consider action based on
long and short-range objectives.
PRESENT: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr,, President
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Mr. Gordon Carey
Congress of Racial Equality
Rev. Kelley M. Smith
Nashville Christian Leadership Council
Rev. Metz Robbins
Nashville Christian Leadership Council
Miss Constance Curry
National Student Association
Mr. Edward King
Student Non-Violent Coordidatirig' committee
M r c Len Holt, Attorney
Norfolk, Virginia
Rev. A. D. King
Atlanta, Georgia
MZ', James R. Wood
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
PLACE!
Education Buildhg, Ebeneder Chdrch
Atlanta, Geofgia
Dr. King presided as %hairman& DiBcussion was free and informal.
Decieions weke uhanimoua in 'every instance. 1; das not recowended that
a formal
regokt be wkitterii
To continue the Freedom Ride program until safe, secure interstate
travel can be enjoyed throughout the nation by all citizens and other
persons legally entitled to this constitutional privilege.
IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVES
To intensify the Freedom Ride so that national public attention can
be brought to examine the denial of legal rights of interstate travellers
by certain citizens and public officials in the.hard-core Southern states.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project
-2-
To create a committee which will be empowered to organize, coordinate,
schedule and otherwise implement the travel of Freedom Riders& To meet the
issues and bring a strong ruling from the httorney General in clearly estab;
lishing the rights of interstate travelers (possibly) through an order t o
the Interstate Commerce Commission. To fill jails of Montgomery and Jackson
in order to keep a sharp image of the issues before the public.
FREEDOM D E COORDINIITING COI'flRITTIB :
This Committee will consist of f o u r (4) permanent members:
Gordon
'
Carey, Congress of Racial Squality; Vyatt T. Ylalkeg. Southern Christian
Leadership Conference; Diane Nash, Nashville Christian Leadership Council;
and Edward King, Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee.
This Committee will not have a chairman. Each member will sit and
function equally in the execution of the responsibilities of the Committee.
The working relationships of the members will be informal ahd decisions
reached by general agreement. Since its members will not all be present
in the conduct of business, mail and telephone communication will be
used for contact. Reports of activities including fund raising, expenditures, progress, etc., will be made to the organizations represented
in the Committee. The frequency of reports will be determined by the
Committee itself.
ORGANIZAT~ON:
The Freedom Ride Coordinating Committee will maintain four ( 4 )
offices: Atlanta, Georgia, Montgomery, Alabama, Jackson, Mississippi,
and New Orleans, Louisiana.
Through these offices the Committee will
recruit, schedule, coordin-:te,provide cost of transportation and attend
to other details relpting to participation in the Freedom Ride. These
offices will use telephone and mail for intercommunication.
FINANCE:
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Congress of Racial
Equality have each agreed to deposit $1,000.00 to an account with Western
Union Telegraph Corporation in Atlanta, Georgia, to be used on a 24 hour
basis in meeting financial needs. The procedures for withdraw1 of these
funds will be established by the Committee.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project
-3Wyatt T. Walker, of Southern Christian Leadership Conference is designeted
as custodian of funds for the Freedom Ride Coordinating Committee.
The
Southern Christian Leadership Conference has agreed to subsidize the telephone and other minor operational costs of the Atlanta and Montgomery offices.
The Congress of Racial Equality has agreed to subsidize the costs of telephone and other minor operational expenses of the Jackson, Mississippi and
New Orleans offices.
LITIGATION I
It was further agreed that Congress of Racial Equality and Southern
Christian Leadership Conferenbe would engage in fund raising for the ptrrpose of underwriting legal expenses incurred by Freedom Riding& The details
of the fund raising to be worked out by each organization. The entitlement
of each organization to raise funds for its own use in this matter is not
to be restricted except as indicated else where in this report. In order
to meet with equity the legal costs arising from Freedom Riding, Southern
Christian Leadership Conference and Congress of Racial Equality have
agreed to act at a later date on the method to be used in apportioning
these costs between themselves. The uncertainty of developments in the areas
of activity makes this necessary.
PUBLIC FELATIONS:
It was further agreed that publicity concerning the Freedom Ride
would originate in the Committee and thy.t publicity would cleerly establish Congress of Racial Equality as the originator of the Freedom Ride,
continuing its program with the assistance of the Student Non-Violent
Coordinating Committee, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the
Nashville Christian Leadership Council. The details and other decisions
to be made concerning publicity relative to the Freedom Ride vrill originate
in the Committee and be executed by the Committee. This is not to be
construed as restricting all publicity concerning Freedom Rides to the
Committee.
Each Organization will be free to publicize its particular
share of participation in the general program.
PROGRAM :
The following suggestions were made as possible elements in the
development of the Freedom Ride program.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project
-4(1) To arrange a conference w i t h the President o f the Uhited S t a t e s f o r the
p o s s i b i l i t y o f discussing various a s p e c t s o f the Freedom Ride.
If i n the
event the President w i l l not grant a conference, then the Attorney General
w i l l be approached f o r the same purpose.
(2) E f f o r t s should be made, with-
out p u b l i c i t y , t o meet w i t h the Governors o f Alabama and M i s s i s s i p p i f o r
the purpose o f reaching general working agreements within the j l i r i g d i c t i o n
o f f e d e r a l laws a f f e c t i n g i n t e r s t a t e t r a v e l and the use o f f a c i l i t i e s i n
those s t a t e s .
I n the event r e p l i e s a r e not received i n answer t o requests
for these meetings, f u l l p u b l i c i t y w i l l be given a f t e r a s u i t a b l e waiting
period has expired.
FUND RAISING:
The Freedom Ride Coordinating Committee w i l l conduct j o i n t r a l l i e s t o
r a i s e funds f o r the general program:
:
Respectfully Submitted For the
Freedom Ride Coordinating
Committee By:
. J u s R. \7ood
Adninistrative A s s i s t a n t t o the
%esident, Southern Christian
Leadership Conference
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project
SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFSRENCE
208 Auburn Avenue, N.
Atlanta 3, Georgia
REPORT OF MEETING FRIDAY,
E.
MAY 2 6 , 1961
NOTE: Meeting called by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to explore
developments related to the Freedom Ride and t o consider action based on
long and short-range objectives.
PRESENT:
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., President
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Mr. Gordon Carey
Congress of Racial Equality
Rev. Kelley M. Smith
Nashville Christian Leadership Council
Rev. Metz Robbins
Nashville Christian Leadership Council'
Miss Constance Curry
National Student Association
Mr. Edward King
Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee
Nr. Len Holt, Attorney
Norfolk, Virginia
Rev. A. D. Xing
Atlanta, Georgia
RLr. James 3. Wood
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
PLACE:
Education Building, Ebenezer Church
Atlanta, Georgia
Dr. King presided as chaiman. Discussion was free -3,d infomal.
3ecisions were unanimous in every instance. It was r,ot rccmmnded that
a formal
report be written.
LGNG-RANGE OBJZCTIVE:
To continue the Freedom Ride program until safe, sec-ireinterst&te
travel can be enjoyed throughout the nation by all citi2er.s and other
persons legally entitled to this constitutional privilege.
EMEDIATE OBJECTIVE:
To intensify the Freedom Ride so that national public attention can
be brought to examine the denial of legal rights of interstate travellers
by certain citizens and public officials in the,hard-coreSouthern states.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project
-2-
To create a committee which will be empowered to organize, cmrdinste,
schedule and otherwise implement the travel or’ Freedom Eiiders. To !xeet the
issues and bring a strong ruling from the :.ttorney General in clezrly establishing the rights of interstate travelers (possibly) throL.gh an order to
the Interstate Commerce Commission. To fill jails of Xontgonery and Jackson
in order to keep a sharp image of the issues before the public.
F E D O M riIDE COORDINI’~INGCOMI.’XTTZZ
:
This Committee w i l l consist of four (4) permanent members:
Gordon
Carey, Congress of Racial 3qunlity; Yiyatt T. !‘,alke$ Southern Christian
Leadership Conference; Diane Nash, llashville Christiar- Leadership Council;
and Zdward King, Student Non-Violent Coordinating Co-mittee.
4:
This Committee will not have a chairman. Zach member * : r i l l sit and
function equally in the execution of the responsibilities of the Comittee.
The working relationships of the members will be inforzal ar-3. decisions
reached by general agreement. Since its members will not a l l be present
in the conduct of business, mail and telepnone cornuicztion will be
used for contact. Reports of activities inclilding f L r d raising, expenditures, progress, etc., will be made to the organizaticns represented
in the Cornittee. The frea-uency of reports will be let?,mir.ed
by the
Cornittee itself.
GRGkNIZhTION:
The Freedom aide Coordinating Comlitzee ..?illmair.tai,? four ( 4 )
offices: Atlanta , Georgia, Xontgonery, LlaSana, Jacksm, 1Iississigsi,
and New Orleans, Louisiana. Through these offices th? kmzittee xi11
recruit, schedule, coordin,te,provide cost of transgort2tisC a d atrend
to other details relrting to participatim in the Freeds:*. 3 3 e . These
offices Till use telephone
and n a i l
for int?rcornunicition.
FIYi..i\JCZ
:
The Southern Christian Le?dership Conference and Zsngress of Racial
;quality have each agreed to deposit .jl,CCG.OO to an account xith ‘,;!estern
Union Telegraph Corporation in Atlanta, Georgia, to be used on a 24 hour
basic in meeting financial needs. The procedures for -:iithdranl of these
funds will be established by the Committee.
1.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project
-3-
!'iyatt T. Lalker, of Southern Christian Leadership Conference is desigwted
The
Southern Christian Leadership Conference has agreed to subsidize the telephone and other minor o2erational costs of the Atlanta and 1.Iontgomery offices.
The Congress of Racial ;quality has agreed to subsidize tha costs of telephone and other minor operational expenses of the Jackson, Liississippi and
New Orleans offices.
as custodian of funds for the Freedom Ride Coordinating Cornittee.
LITIGATION :
It was further agreed that Congress of Racial 2quelity and Southern
Christian Leadership Conference would engsge in fund raisira for the purpose of underwriting legal expenses incurred by Freedom iiiding. The details
of the fund raising to be morked out by ezch organization. The entitlement
of each organization to reise funds for its own use in this ffiatter is not
t o be restricted except as indicated else where in this report. In order
to meet with equity the legal costs arisirlg from Freedon Riding, Southern
Christian Leadership Conference a d Congress o f %cia1 Zc,uality have
agreed to act at a later date on the method to be u s e d in apportioning
these costs between thenselves. The uncertainty of developents in the areas
of activity rakes this zecessary.
FUBLIC RZLiTIONS :
It mas further agreed thet publicity concerning the Freedom Ride
would originate in the Committee 2nd tn.-.t publicity xould c l e z r l y establish Congress of Eiacial Zquality as the originator of the Freedon Ride,
continuing its progren :.iith the assistance of the Student Bon-Violent
Coordinating Committee, Southern Christien Lesdership Conference, the
Nashville Christian Le2.5ership Council. The d e t c i l s 226 other decisions
to
be Eade concerning Fublicity relative to the Frc-edon Bide .;/illoriginate
in the Cornittee and be executed by the Cornittee. This is not to be
construed as restricting all publicity ccncerning Freedom aides to the
Committee. Iach Organization will be free to publicize its particular
share of participation in the general program.
P3CGRAIS :
The following suggestions were made
development of the Freedom Ride program.
2s
possible elenents in the
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project
-4-
(1) To a r r a n g e a c o n f e r e n c e w i t h t h e F r e s i d e i i t
o f ti:e United S t a t e s f o r the
p o s s i b i l i t y of d i s c u s s i n g v a r i o u s a s p e c t s of :!?e Freedom X d e .
If i n t h s
e v e n t t h e F r e s i d e n t w i l l n o t g r m t a c o n f e r e c c e , tken t h e i , t t o r n e y General
w i l l b e approached f o r t h e same purpose.
(2) Z f f o r t s should be made, with-
o u t p u b l i c i t y , t o meet w i t h the Governors of Alabama and h i i s s i s s i p p i f o r
t h e purpose of r e a c h i n g g e n e r a l working a g r e m e n t s w i t h i n the j ' u r i s d i c t i x
of f e d e r a l laws a f f e c t i n g i n t e r s t a t e t r a v e l and t h e u s e or" f z c i l i t i e s i n
those s t a t e s .
I n the event r e p l i e s a r e not received i n ansner t o requests
f o r t h e s e meetings, f u l l p u b l i c i t y w i l l be g i v e n a f t e r a s u i t a b l e w a i t i n g
period has expired.
FTTND 34ISING :
The Freedom %.de C o o r d i n a t i n g Committee ,:;ill canduct j o i r , t r a l l i e s i o
raise f u n d s f o r t h e g e n e r a l program.