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Story
May 25, 1955
Atlanta Daily World
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
What is this article about?
NAACP urges Congress to protect Mississippi Negroes following the shotgun ambush lynching of Rev. George Lee in Belzoni by whites linked to the Citizens Council, amid escalating racial atrocities; first such incident since 1949.
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Appeal To Congress To Protect Mississippi Negroes
WASHINGTON-(ANP)-NAACP officials made an urgent appeal to Congress for protection of Negroes in Mississippi after the "lynching" of a crusading Baptist minister in Belzoni, Miss.
Clarence Mitchell, director of the Washington NAACP bureau appeared before the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections and made a plea for protection for Mississippi Negroes after Gov. Hugh White snubbed NAACP requests for an investigation of the gang-line style shooting.
Meanwhile, more than 1,000 persons from all over the state poured into Belzoni, a town of 8,000 for funeral services for Rev. George Lee, who was ambushed and fatally wounded by three shotgun blasts from a car carrying several whites.
It is reported that a Negro rode in with the white men, serving as a 'finger man.'
Rev. W. W. Walden, Chicago, who commutes to Mississippi to preach conducted services for Rev. Lee outdoors because the slain minister's church could not hold the throng. Rev. Walden said Mississippi ministers have started a reward fund for the apprehension of Rev. Lee's "lynchers."
The "lynching" was the culminating point in a series of atrocities committed against the Negro community which included the breaking of car windows and raiding of the Negro Elks club.
Rev. Lee was reportedly the first on a list of three Belzoni Negroes that the Citizens Council voted to make examples of. The other two are T. V. Johnson, a local undertaker, and Cuss Courts, grocery store operator, now under severe economic pressure from the Council.
The Lee slaying is the state's first "lynching" since 1949 and perhaps the gravest act of violence since the formation of the Citizens Councils.
The last lynching in the state occurred in 1949, when Malachie Wright, 45, Houston Miss, was shot to death by a group of whites when he did not get out of a road fast enough to satisfy them.
Last reported lynching in the U. S was in 1951 when Melvin Womack, Orange county, Fla., was forced from his home and beaten to death. Since 1900, a total of 1,987 lynchings have been recorded. Of these 195 were white, 1,792 were Negroes.
Rev Lee is survived by his widow, Mrs. Rosebud Lee.
WASHINGTON-(ANP)-NAACP officials made an urgent appeal to Congress for protection of Negroes in Mississippi after the "lynching" of a crusading Baptist minister in Belzoni, Miss.
Clarence Mitchell, director of the Washington NAACP bureau appeared before the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections and made a plea for protection for Mississippi Negroes after Gov. Hugh White snubbed NAACP requests for an investigation of the gang-line style shooting.
Meanwhile, more than 1,000 persons from all over the state poured into Belzoni, a town of 8,000 for funeral services for Rev. George Lee, who was ambushed and fatally wounded by three shotgun blasts from a car carrying several whites.
It is reported that a Negro rode in with the white men, serving as a 'finger man.'
Rev. W. W. Walden, Chicago, who commutes to Mississippi to preach conducted services for Rev. Lee outdoors because the slain minister's church could not hold the throng. Rev. Walden said Mississippi ministers have started a reward fund for the apprehension of Rev. Lee's "lynchers."
The "lynching" was the culminating point in a series of atrocities committed against the Negro community which included the breaking of car windows and raiding of the Negro Elks club.
Rev. Lee was reportedly the first on a list of three Belzoni Negroes that the Citizens Council voted to make examples of. The other two are T. V. Johnson, a local undertaker, and Cuss Courts, grocery store operator, now under severe economic pressure from the Council.
The Lee slaying is the state's first "lynching" since 1949 and perhaps the gravest act of violence since the formation of the Citizens Councils.
The last lynching in the state occurred in 1949, when Malachie Wright, 45, Houston Miss, was shot to death by a group of whites when he did not get out of a road fast enough to satisfy them.
Last reported lynching in the U. S was in 1951 when Melvin Womack, Orange county, Fla., was forced from his home and beaten to death. Since 1900, a total of 1,987 lynchings have been recorded. Of these 195 were white, 1,792 were Negroes.
Rev Lee is survived by his widow, Mrs. Rosebud Lee.
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Story
Historical Event
Tragedy
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
Justice
Tragedy
What keywords are associated?
Lynching
Rev. George Lee
Belzoni Mississippi
Naacp Appeal
Citizens Council
Racial Violence
What entities or persons were involved?
Rev. George Lee
Clarence Mitchell
Gov. Hugh White
Rev. W. W. Walden
T. V. Johnson
Cuss Courts
Mrs. Rosebud Lee
Where did it happen?
Belzoni, Miss.
Story Details
Key Persons
Rev. George Lee
Clarence Mitchell
Gov. Hugh White
Rev. W. W. Walden
T. V. Johnson
Cuss Courts
Mrs. Rosebud Lee
Location
Belzoni, Miss.
Story Details
NAACP appeals to Congress for protection of Mississippi Negroes after the lynching of Rev. George Lee, a crusading Baptist minister ambushed and shot by whites in Belzoni; he was targeted by the Citizens Council amid a series of atrocities against the Negro community.