The Atlanta Inquirer

Hundreds Sign Petition, Pledge "For The Duration" Support

A petition from Atlanta adults asking student sit-inners to come out of Fulton County Jail and pledging all out support "for the duration" did what legalistic threats, various health problems, and the pressure of overcrowding and concern over classroom work could not do as ministers and other civic leaders hopefully planned a giant "homecoming" for some 54 students who Thursday morning left the cells they have occupied for the last two weeks.

See student's statement on page 2.

A fiery mass meeting highlighted by appeals from students just out of jail, the taped singing of students still in jail, and a rousing sermon by Montgomery freedom-fighter Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy was the prelude to 54 students leaving the Fulton County Jail Thursday morning after receiving a petition signed by more than 400 adults.

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STONE, STEEL, STOUT HEARTS ... As calm and sure of themselves as if they were in a college dormitory, a group of jailed sit-inners talk quietly in a prison corridor, undisturbed by the pattern of bars rising above them.
Hundreds Sign
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Praising the students for turning a searchlight upon the consciences of Atlanta's adults. The petition stressed the community's need to have these "campaign veterans" inspire those who will be gathering at upcoming rallies.
More than 400 signatures had been secured at West Mitchell C.M.E. Church before the mass meeting ended.
The third weekly mass meeting in the current series, sponsored by the Committee on Appeal for Human Rights and the Student-Adult Liaison Committee, is scheduled for Monday night at Greater Mt. Calvary Baptist Church with Nashville desegregation leader Kelly Miller Smith as the main speaker.
Some adult spokesmen, however, were speaking Wednesday of a giant "Liberation Rally" for Friday evening if the dedicated students in the modernistic stone pile on Jefferson Street could agree to come out on the pledge that the adult community would give "active and unwavering support" in "staying out of those places" which, the petition stated, "accept our money and yet discriminate against us."
Miss Lydia Tucker, Clark College senior, recounted at the mass meeting some of the experiences of the students in jail and, assisted by Marsha Goodwin, Diane Middlebrook and Nezetta O'Neal ("Miss Clark") sang three of the songs composed behind bars by the University Center coeds. Miss Tucker stated that some of the white women prisoners asked for the words of the song and sang along with the college girls.
Rev. Abernathy, in his stirring sermon, called the students "soldiers in the Army of Freedom" and said that the people of the emerging states of Africa are asking "how long shall it be before America will give democracy to all its people?"
Rev. Joseph Boone of Rush Memorial Congregational Church presided, Benjamin Brown of the COAHR steering committee led the group singing, and Rev. J. D. Grier of Fort Street Methodist Church made the appeal for funds to support the students' cause.
Rev. T. C. Lightfoot is pastor of West Mitchell C.M.E. Church.
One of the most dramatic moments of the evening came as the crowd listened to the taped session in the jail. A hush fell over the audience as Lenora Taitt, Spelman senior from New York City, voiced an eloquent plea for those "outside" to keep the faith, winding up her plea with a fervent, quietly voiced prayer.
Among the adult citizens present at the mass meeting were Rev. M. L. King, Sr., J. E. Jordan, Rev. Charles S. Stinson, Mrs. P. Q. Yancey, Rev. J. M. Middleton, Dr. James B. Ellison, Atty. Leroy Johnson, Mrs. Ruth Sturdevant, Rev. Walter McCall and Rev. Albert Dunn.

REVEREND B. JOSEPH JOHNSON drives home a point as he addresses last Sunday's mass meeting at Wheat Street Baptist Church. He was the main speaker on a program honoring the students who chose jail without bail after being arrested during anti-segregation demonstrations here and was one of eight ministers arrested last week. At right Miss Herschelle Sullivan who also addressed the audience. Photo by Alexander.