ITBI Date: 3/20/68 Ti??nIsmit the following - (Type Iin plain text or code) .. .. vm' AIATAAI _u . - . (Prio'dpy of Method Hanna) ?1?0 F13 I AAMAM: :AanAsL 1.1g - ME "Pf I AIRS STRIKE SETS- .5: I313 and captioned as above. . H- .. I . Copies?are being di I wand U. S. :kwu at of Military Intelligence. Sourc?a - ?a 1) (RA (157-1092) (A) Re Memphis airtel and LIAM .Losed herewith for and far Atla.mt a 2 copies of a Service, Memp uSIed rt. GLAAS BE A A DATE dated 3/19/Go., the Bureau are llgioples A letterhead memorandum dated ?3 to the U. Attorney his,_ Iand to levional Officeo?; . 1'ng 136:; AM are. ?011 a {1 r'A. PC. EL W?Gin AlmhiasWW3, Majbr Urbmn Fru?:ggzg 5 A :Atm: (A). - ,g'ygyh?jJA.AASS . ?2 iga; a ?:018 . A Sub? Uiasemination File) 183,1! i?lizu - 'ii 1?ApprovedP?ge 123 A *1 a 9 ME 157?1092 Source one is Em 338==R(Ghettoj @640 Source two ?E?ECterization of JAMES BEVEL) LEAD: MEMPHIS DIVISION 1 W111 continue to follow and advise Bureau of pertinent developments. . NH 3491 Page 129 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BUREAU OFINVESTIGATION . . I In Reply. Please Referta? Memphie, Tennessee - mean. March 20, 1968 . Re: SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - 1 RACIAL MATTERS \9 5:35;? $47 on March 20, 19?89 Lientenent E. H. Arkin, InspectionSI BureSn9 Memph_is9 TenneSsee9 Police Department, deised that twO Shall marches in Support Of the sanitation workers strike Which hes exiSted in Memphis since February 12, 1968, took place in MemphiS With the marchers marching from Temp1e St 280 to the vicinity of the Memphis Cit-y HS1L The mSTeheTS nerched single Tile on the He StSted that the nerch began around 3 p. m. consiSted .of some 75 th 100 people, primarily Negro adults, and that the Second erSh Sronnd 5 consisting of some 70 youngSters, mostly ST Sehool age. The youngsters held a small prSyeT meeting on the in front of the City HS11. There were no end no incidents. Lieutenant Arkin continued that two of the biggest :trouhlenekers fer in connection With the strike support Sctivitiee, namely, Willie Jenkins, age 18, male Negro, of 86 WeSt McLemoTe, and John HenTy FeTguson, Sge 20, male Negro, of 1279 Avenue, appeSTed in Memphis City Court Shout week ago were-fined eSch on Disorderly Conduct and were bound to the StSte ST on State Disorderly Conduct en 19,'1968, the Shelby County Jury indicted Fergneon and Jenkins under .S llonyeeruold State law, need only-once before in history, charging JenkinS_Snd Ferguson with "Unlewfully Disturbing Disquieting School AseenhlegS?St Carver High Schodl on Merch 119 1968, when they Sttenpted to induce all of the students in the cSTeteTiS to Telk out in Snpport of the strikeo They TeTused to leSve the cSTeteTiS Then SSked to do so by school oTTiciSlS end the police were When the police attempted NH 3491 to remove them, they lSid on the Tioor refused to move. 11 -- Bureau ZuAtlanta' SSA ,MemPhiS; 1 1 I 111th MI, Memphis). 1 - 111th MI 1? NISO, Charleston, 1 SEI, Manneli AFB, A1 . 03?1?? 157-556 17ou7 00-452 133%}: Cf 0 DucId:59163166 Page 130 NH 3491 SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE . RACIAL MATTERS Lieutenant Arkin stated that L. A. Rhodes, Assistant Attorney General of Shelby County, Tennessee, stated the act under which the men were indicted was passed in 1858. Lieutenant Arkin stated that during the night of March 19, 1968, a series of small incidents, in all probability related to the strike, occurred and'that there were scattered instances of trash fires and false fire alarms. He stated that John Hart, male Negro, age 58, of 2911 Yale, a sanitation worker, told the police that two bricks were thrown at his house at about 9:30 March 19, 1968. One of-the bricks hit his roof and the other smashed the windshield of his automobile. Lieutenant Arkin added that a number of bottles were broken on the street at Jackson and Hastings, forcing police to call out ahsanitation crew to clean up the debris under a protective escort; Lieutenant Arkin also advised that one Richard Givens of 629 Hastings reported to the police that three windows were broken in his home on Monday night, March 18, 1968, after he set his garbage at the curb for pickup subsequently during the day? Lieutenant Arkin also pointed out it was learned that a hole had been shot-through the window of a Loeb's Laundry, 1143 Walker Avenue, and that rocks broke a window at Loeb'S' Barbecue, 562 South Parkway East. as stated that one of the prime targets of the Negro supporters of the strike has been Loeb?s business establishments owned by.William Loeb, brother of Memphis Mayor Henry Loeb. Lieutenant Arkin further reported that the Memphis City Council met Tuesday afternoon, March 19, 1968, and that approximately 250 Negro strike supporters attended this . council meeting, hoping that Negro Councilman J. 0. Patterson, Jr., would bring up a resolution urging the City Council to vote favorably recommending that Mayor Henry Loeb grant the duesmcheck-off for the sanitation workers which appears to be the main obstacle.preventing the solution of the strikePage 131 VSANITATION WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Lieutenant Arkih stated that he had learned that :a lot of conversation took place daring City Council recesses and that fiaa1ly about 8 p. March 19; 1968, the City Council recessed until 4: 30 p. Thursday, March 21,1968, at which t1me the Patterson resolution Will_be discussed. The "Commercial Appea1" _aewspaper, issue of March 20,- .1968, reported that Mr. Patterson told the paper that the COuncil is still divided on the issue of dues check?off which with pay increases ahd'a written contract are the major remaining issues in the strike.? The paper reported that he, Patterson, -had talked with Jerry Wurf,Pres1deat of the American Federation. 01 State, County and Municipal Employees, and_ that Wurf told Patterson that 11 the resolution offered Patterson was passed that it would settle the strike. . Lieutenant.Arkin pointed out that this meeting will be on the eve Of the schedu1ed mass doshtOWn Memphis march urged originally by Martin Luther King, Jr., President of the Southern Christian Leadership conference (SCLC), on Monday night, March 18,1968,when he spoke before a mass rally supporting the strike at mason Temple in Memphis.? On March 20, 1968, both Lieutehant Arkin and -source one,'respective1y and independently, advised that a strike rally meeting was held in Warren Temple, located at the inter- section of Mississippi Boulevard and Williams Street, on the ?night of March 19, 1968, the featured speaker being James Bevel, .who is an_executive staff member of the SCLC, Specializing in "nonviolent action.W Bevel, who is a large man and now wears a full beard and- is a male Negro, urged all present to give' ?their undivided support to King"s call for a mass march on Friday, March 22, 1968, to begin at 9 a m. at Clayborn Temple RH 3491 and urged that ail Negroes in Memphis refuse to go to work on Friday, March 22,1968, and that all stadents refuse to go to school on that day and that all come to dewntown Memphis to participate in the march Bevel also reported that if the strike_ 13., Page 132 NH 3491 -SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE is not settled by March 22, 1968, that all school children shaiuiremain at home during the week beginning March 25,1968. It was further reported at the meeting, according to Lieutenant Arkinsnd source one, that on March 20,1968, the strikers will hold a noon meeting at the Firestone Union ,Hall and that at 2 p. m. - the adults will march. and at 4:30 m. the students will march, all in downtown Memphis. It was further reported that leaflets will be passed out at all high schools in Memphis, March 20, 1968, by supporters of the strike urging that children remain home from school on March 22,1968. Source one reported that Bevel stated that he is separated from his wife, Diane Nash Bevel, and Bevel indicated that he had recently spent considerable time in Washington, in connection with the proposed "Poor Peoples' March, whereby impoverished Negroes from all sections of the country, particularly the South, will begin a "camp?in" in Washington, D, 0., beginning April 22,1968. Bevel stated that Martin Luther King, Jr., and some of his staff are spending march 19, 20, and '21, in the State of Mississippi organizing volunteers to participate in this "campain" and also soliciting financial support therefor. King and his group are expected to return to Memphis late on the night of March 21, 1968, in preparation for the mass March 22, 1968, downtown Memphis march. Source one stated that King had 12 members of his staff with him in Memphis on the night of March 18, including one unidentified female. Also on March 20, 1968, source one added that two selfuadmitted members of the young militant Student Nonviolent Coordinating Cbmmittee (SNCC) black power movement of Memphis, using of Black Organizing Power (BOP), namely Clinton Roy Jamerson of 1397 Davis, a student at LeMoyne College, and . James Elmore Phillips, of 1592 Short, a student at LeMoyne College, commented that_ James Bevel would speak at fan assembly at LeMoyne College at 11: 30 a. March 20,1968 ??4cm Page 133 SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE On March 20, 1968, Lieutenant Arkin added that Charles .Laverne Cabbage and John Burrell Smith, the ?admitted leaders of the BOP grOup in Memphis, were present at the meeting at Warren- Temple and were heard by a reliable ?source of the Police Department to say that they would have NH 3491 their "own little thing going" on Friday, March 22,1968. They did not elaborate as towhat they planned. 2 CHARLES LAVERNE CABBAGE - JOHN BURRELL SMITH. CLINTON ROY JAMERSON JAMES ELMORE PHILLIPS On February 16 1968, in connection with another FBI invest-igation, James Elmore Phillips, Clinton Roy Jamerson, Charles Laverne Cabbage and John Burrell Smith advised representatives of the FBI that they are members of the governing body of the Black Organizing Power (BOP) Which Cabbage described as. a militant yohng Negro black power movement in Memphis which has connections with the SNCC. JAMES Bevel, in early March 1966, was observed to be present at the_offices of the West Side W. E. B. DuBois" Clubs in Chicago (DOA). Discussion took place at this time centering around reaction to a recent notification that the AttOrney General of the United States intended to label the DuBois Clubs as a Communist front. _Beve1 in conversation stated that he would have ignored this 'notification and kept about the work in'which he was engaged. He felt that if the DuBois Clubs have a real?, program of help for the peeple, then the people would answer for the Clubs despite any labels applied to them. ?51 DucId:59163166 Page 134 NH 3491 SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Most present agreed that the attack on the DuBois Clubs was a part of the plan by the "establish- ment? to undermine the civil rights movement. They felt that the recent hearings into Klan activities in this country were only a beginning which would .1ead to a full-scale attack on the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the real target. One of those present stated during the course of this discussion that he was not a Communist, and to this Bevel was overheard to reply that every thinking American should be. He stated that Negroes have not begun to read yet, but when they do, they will all be socialists. (Source Two) (A characterization of the W. E. B. DuBois Clubs of American is set forth in the Appendix Section.) The information furnished by source one was orally .furnished to Lieutenant E. H. Arkin of the Memphis Police Department on March 20, 1968, and the information from Lieutenant Arkin and source one was furnished to Mr. William Bray of the 111th Military Intelligence Corps, Third Army, Memphis, Tennessee, on March 20,1968. . . Page 135 RH 3191 1 APPENDIX W, E, DU CLUBS OF AMERICA (DOA) . A source advised that on October 26-27, 1963, a cone ference of members of the Communist Party, USA (CPUSA), including ?national functionaries, met in Chicago, 11linois, for the purpose of setting in motion forces for the establishment of'a new national Marxistuoriented youth organization which would hunt for the most peaceful transition to socia1ism, The delegates were told that it wou1d be reasonable to assume that the young socilists attracted into this no an organization would eventually pass into the CP itself A second source has advised that the founding convention for the new youth organization was he1d from June 19:21, 1964, at 150 Go1den Gate Avenue, San Francisco, California, at which time the name DuBois Clubs of America (DCA) was adopted. Approximate1.y 500 delegates from throughout the United States attended this convention, The second source advised in September, 1966, that Mike Zagare11, CPUSA Youth DirectOr, stated that in Negro ,communities the Party sti11 supported the plan to build "left" social1st centers and to solidify the Party base through the DCA. This source a1so advised in September, 1966, that Daniei Rubin, CPUSA Nationai Organizational Secretary, stated the Party believes the BOA should have a workingaclass outiook and be a mass.organination favorable to socialism, socialist countries and harxism, and in April, 1967, advised that Gus General Secretary, indicated the DCA primary emphasis shou1d be ,ion developing mass resistance to the draft A third source advised in September, 1967, that Jarvis Tyner .was e1ected chairman of the DCA on September 10, 1967, at the Third Nationa1 Convention of the D01 held in New York, New York, from September A fourth source advised during August, 1967,'that Jarvis Tyner is a member of the National Committee of the CPUSA. A fifth source advised on September 21, 1967, that the headquarters of the DCA is 1ocated at 34 West_17th Street, New York, Nee York APPENDIX 59163166 Page 136 NH 3491 SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE . .- This document-contains neighei?recomnendations nor. conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to. your-agency; it and its contents are not to be Idistributed outside your agency. DucId:59163166 Page 13? UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL 7' Memphis, Tennessee menu March 20, 1968 Title: WORKERS STRIKE 'Character:' RACIAL MATTERS Reference;i Memorandum dated and captioned as above prepared at Memphis, Tenness ee. A11 sources (except any listed below) whose identities are concealed in referenced communication have furnished reliable information in the past. . . I . This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. . It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.i . NH 3491 Page 133 (Elev. 12-13-56Date: 3/21/68 1 . Transmit the following in . I l/fi N. . (Type in plain text or code) Cg 31:51 i/(Priority or Method of Mailing) quv??yq?qr?qI-P A TO: DIRECTOR FBI go .1 1 a in FROM: SAC, MEMPHIS (157-1092) (E) 417/3 SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE c. .3111 111 MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE (1.1.11 I112 51?3? 3.. 0. 311/ - -W Re Memphis LHM and airtel, 3/20/68. Enclosed for the Bureau are 11 copies oE LLM captioned and dated as above. Three copies are enclosed for Atlanta 2 fer Chicago and 2 for WED. I Copies are also being disseminated to the U. S. Attorney and U. S. Secret Service, Memphis, and to regiona1I offices of military intelligence. Ghetto @596) r( ED . 1 0031 1" A . .. 1.. Source one is ME 3389K Source two is JAMES BEVEL) . q; 3 Bureau (EDCS 1 1) "(afigg If; IE1: 3 - At lanta (Encs 3) (RM) w: . . 1.1311? (1 - . (1 .- LUTHER KING) . (1 BEVEL) . 2 Chicago (Enos. . (1 - 100~Sanitation Workers Strike) (1 - JAMES BEVEL) - 2 a WFO (Encs. - (1 100=Sanitation Workers Strike) A C, (1 .. BEVEL) 1M Memphis (1 - (1 157~556, Possible Racial Violence, Urban areas) (1 a 100~662, NAACP) 157= 166, SCLC) um IOU-14105, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. 0.1.1 .. Mam Sent 1 Per Special ent in Charge - .1 7 1m 3491 59163166 game 112 Cf 3 ME 157-1092 COPIES 157- Rev. HAROLD MIDDLEBROOK) (1 a (1 a 157-109, SNCC) (1 15711000, JAMES ELMORE PHILLIPS) (1 1-151- 1018, CLINTON ROY JAMEESOE) (1 a 100-4528, CHARLES L. CABBAGE) (1 157a957, JOHN B. SMITH) (I 2 15721116 I (D) (1 a 17om7o (1 157a MILTON MACK) (l 66-1687 Sub A, Dissemination File) LEADS: m7- ATLANTA, CHICAGO, AND WFO DIVISEONS Copies are furnished to Atlanta and Chicago for information since SCLC is headquartered in Atlanta and BEVEL is known to have recently lived in Atlanta and Chicago. WFO is being furnished copies because of the impending ?Poor Peoples' to begin 4/22/68. MEMPHIS DIVISIOM AT MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Will continue to follow and report pertinent activities. NH 3491 Page 113 f/ A I . 0 1 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BUREAU 0FINVESTIGA1ION SS Innsnumuuaanm Memphis, TenneSsee nan. ?ig?3. March 21, 1968 I 1135g?fcfb?q' 36" Re: SANITATION {Eng-13 A (f MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE 432:? 5 . RACIAL MATTERS 56 . kw .i On March 2,1 1968, Lieutenant E. ..H 111-1111,. Inspectional Bureau, Memphis, TennesSee, Police Department, advised that ontme 1ate afternoon of March 20, 1968, two small sympathy marcheS in. support of the sanitation Workers strike, Memphis, Tennessee, whiCh began February 12,1968, occurred in d6Wntown Memphis averaging approximately_ 75 persons in each march. These marches Originated at Glayhorn . Temple and terminated at the Memphis City Hall. The first .march consisted primarily of adults and the_ second march primarily conS1sted of Sehool age children, most1y_ teenagers. The "Commercial?Appeal" newspaper, issue of .- March 21, 1968, reported that leaders of the striking sanitation workers say that the long strike could be _ended quieklx giI the City Council which _reconvenes at 4:30 March 21. 1868 would approve an ordinance offered by Councilman?Ja 0. Patterson, Jr., male Negro, to authorize a payrolludeduction of Union dues, pointing out that the Council will meet on the eve of a planned sympathy march throughout doWntown Memphis on March 22, 1968, to begin Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The paper quoted P. J. Ciampa, International Representative for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, as saying, "Certainly we'd go back to work after we get some smaller points resolved." Ciampa stated that the dues check?off is the "big stumbling i-block" to settlement of the 5?week?old walkout. Other unclarified. issues are those of written contracts and pay increases.' . At a meeting held at St. Louis Catholic Churchhon the night of March 21, 1968, according to_ the paper, Mayor?' spoke. He stated that he would have not .- i sanitation workers, the City Employees' ?31:09 (111313 ED organization deduct the 00 a month Labor Uni6n dues from their me ?aw? 1? RH 3491 DucI?:59163166 'Page 114 I 3111111101 WORKERS STRIKE, 1119115, 111138311' pdyc?ecks and issue a check to the worker who would theIn turn it over to Union officials. He further said he would have no objection to Labor Union officials being present when the sa-nitation workers receive their pay Checks and col.1ectingI the- Union dues from the employees at that ime. The paper Stated that the Patterson ordinance does not specifically provide for dues? check~0f? for City employees but does say that payroll deductions mIay be made at the employees' request for contributions to charitable organizations, health insurance, credit unions, and other City employee group plans.. Lieutenant E. H. Arkin, On March 2L 1968, pointed out that the Memphis police will have no alternative but to allow the massive March 22, 1968, sympathy march to march on the streets of downtown Memphis due to the expected 10 000 to 15, 000 participants. He stated that -the march was scheduled to leeve Cleyborn Temple not later than 9 a to march north on Hernando to Beale Street, west on Beale to Main, nerth on Main to Poplar, east on- Poplar to Second Street, and south on Second to Beale, rethrning to Clayborn Temple where it would diSperse. Lieutenant Arkin pointed out that . there is a concerted effort on the- part of the strike sympathizers led by a group of Negro ministers,_ plus the National AssociatiOn for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), to have all -'junior high and high school Negro students in Memphis stay away NH 3491 from school to support the_sympathy march and that many Negro businesses are permitting their employees to take the day off for the march. He stated tmit for this reason, he antioi ates a large turnout, particularly in view of the fact that Martin Luther King,. Jr., who is a nationally known figure, will he a key perticipent in theI march. 121 DucId:59163166 _Page 115 NH 3491 Pdge'll? SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE, TENNESSEE . On March 21, 1968, a first source,who is most conversant with all key activities in the Negro community of Memphis, pointed out. that he predicts 10, 000 to 20, 000 participants in the march, basing his prediction on the efact that some- 13, 000 turned out on the night of March 18, 1968, to hear King When he spoke at Mason Temple He pointed out that eve'ry_ high school in Memphis which has Negro students, with an estimated 13,000 Negro high school students,- has been saturated with leaflets all students to remain away from schooL .and that a saturation is also beingeconducted at the junior high schoels, which he estimated to have some 20, OQO Negro studentS.: He pointed out that a Concerted effort is being .made at all of the un1vers1t1es and colleges in Memphis to have students leave those institutions to participate in the march and th;at :the major Negro businesses in Memphis, includipg UniversaL Liie Insurance Company, UniOn Protective Life - 7 Insurance Company, North Carolina Mutual and Atlanta Life,?lr have all told their employees,which would total several hundred that they should take. off and- participate in the march. He sta.ted that the Teamsters Union, the F?irestone Local of the United Rubber Workers Union, which has about 1,000 negro employees, and the United Auto Workers Union at the International Harvester Plant, Which has about 1,000 Negro employees-, have all promised maSs turnouts on the part of their employees te participate in the march. . James Bevel,. one of King' 5 key workers, according ?to source one, has remained in Memphis since March 18,1968, and has been working in concert with Harold Middl.ebrook, 257 Walker, a male Negro, in organizing college and high school students to participate in the march. Source one advised that on March 20, 1968, Bevel and Middlebrook were taken to LeMoyne College, Memphis, by James Phillips and Clinton Roy Jamerson, Who have admitted to source being members of the black power group in Memphis known as .Black Organizing Power (BOP). Phillips and Jamerson arranged for a nonscheduled meeting at the Student Center, LeMoyne College, at noon on March 20,1968,with appro.ximately 75 to 100 'LeMoyne students attending. HBevel-was the_main speaker_and' SAHETATEON WORKERS STRIKE, MEMEHES, TJNNESSEE the hoet wee a young white dremetios instructor? understood to be named Lee. Bevel, who source described an about 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 170 pounds, light oomplected, with receding hairline? non hes a full heard and a full mustache, He gave a most virulent black power talk, claiming that the white power structure through economic preSeure will eventn?ly to attempt to exterminate the Negroes in the United States in some form of genocidegand pointed out that the United States in its foreign aid program has proven that it is a white supremacist country in that it gives more to white nations in foreign aid than it does to black countries_ such as those in Africa. Bevel claimed that while the Negroes or black men welcome the support given by the White clergy NH 3491 and white "dougoodere? that these people are not really sincere, that they have no "reel soul feeling" toward the'Hegro, and he~. enggeeted that his listeners read several blank revolutionary books. He particularly urged them to read ?The Wretehed pf the Earth by Frentz Fenona Source one eteted that Charles Laverne Cabbage; the titular lender of the Black Organizing Power (BOP), a Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SHCC) oriented group in Hemphie, and that John smith, who along with Charles S. Ballard, Charles Harrington and Verdell Brooks, all of Owen College, who came to the meeting9 stated that cabbage is staying. in the background for the present time and that he is the over?all organizer and coordinator and planner of the black power movement in Memphis Bevel told the students that they should cease dancing and playing cards and wasting their time end should come into the black power_movement and dedicate themselvee.to its cause. He urged all of the LeHoyne students to appear at Clayhorn Temple es eerly es 2 a me, March 22, 1968, to participate en mesee in the Martin Luther Kingm led sympathy march for the sanitation workers Strike? John Smith and his group eteted that they were canvassing all of the Negro high eohoole with leaflets urging a noes walkout at the eohoole with the walking students to pertieinete in the eanitetion workers sympathy mnrohr -41 DucId:59163166 Page 11? NH 3491 AOA WORKERA Ame Source one stated that James Bevel wee scheduled to speak at e'mess rally at Lane Avenue Baptist Church on the night of March 21, 1968. Middlebrook and Bevel stated that they planned to also canvass Memphis State_Univer51ty,- .Southweetern College, and Christian Brothers College later on March 21, 1968, and to Appear at Owen Junior College, a? Negro institution, on March 21, 1968, ?John B. Smith bragged to Bevel that his BOP group has also organized at meet of the colleges in Memphis. Source one pointed out that there appeared to be two young militant groups working in support of the sanitation strike One of these grou_pe is the BOP group headed by Charlee Cabbage and John Smith and the other is a small undieeiplined group of young militants headed by two-male 'Negroee, both of Whom have already been arrested in connection With the strike, namely John Henry Ferguson, male Negro, age 20, born September 11, 1947, who resides at 12?9 and willie Jemee Jenkins, male Negro, age 18, born August'Sl, 1949, end residing at 86 West McLemore. - Source one pointed out that Jenkins and Ferguson. have a small group of 12 teen?age followers, all militant, who loaf at the headquarters of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, set up in the Hotel Peabody in Memphis, and that in his considered opinion-ffom this group Will come those who will engage in sporadic acts of vandalism throughout Memphis, such as throwing Molotov cocktails into cars and- egainet the homes of the Sanitation workers who are continuing toAAork. DucId:59163166 Page 113 SANXTATION.WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE At the LeMoyne meeting, according to source one, Bevel told the students that in addition to reading the black nationalist literature described above, they should all read "Muhammad Speaks," the official newspaper of the Nation of Islam, headed in Chicago, Illinois, nationally by Elijah Muhammad. He pointedcnw that much of Muhammad'.s program fits his concept of black power philosophy all with the exception of thereligious acts aspect, whereby Muhammad claims Allah as his god. He told the students to ignore the religious aSpect of the Nation of Islam and merely to follow the economic and political aspects -propounded therein. Bevel then told some of the people present, particularly Milton Mack, a fairly recent recruit into the BOP group and who is older, former student at LeMoyne College, that he, Bevekl, plans within the next year to form a new black power organization throughout the United States, pointing out that it would probably supersede SNCC and would take in remnants of the varied, uncoordinated black power groups now existing throughout the" United States. He wants to build this into a united effort to have tentacles in all major communities in the United States. Bevel, While an ordained minister, was extremely vulgar and obscene in his talk, shocking some of the women who were present, and it was noted thatthe Physical Education Ihstrueton left the meeting after some of these vulgarities were spoken by Bevel The Dramatics Professor, believed to be (First I Name Unknown) Lee, wanted the students to encourage Dr Hollis Price, President of LeMoyne, to declare March 22,1968, an official holiday in order that they could have mass .support for the march, Whereas Phillips and Jamerson claimed that they need not go through the Administration as they did not like Dr. Price and that the students would take off anyway. -6- DueId:59163166 Page 119 SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Bevel indicated that Martin Luther King would probably not return to Memphis until late on march 21, 1968, or even until the early morning of March 22,1968. He stated that he will be here only long enough for the march as has a tight schedule and that the march would definitely have to start by 9 a in order to fit 1n with? King' schedule. as did not elaborate. NH 3491 Later on March 21, 1968, according to source one,_ John B. Smith and Charles Ballard commented that they had been Willing to form a "action group" to work on behalf of the Union, but that the Union leaders were afraid of them and would not fund them with money._ _Source one pointed out that very definitely the Jenkins and Ferguson faction is not a part of the CabbageuSmith BOP group, at least to this . point, and that Ferguson and Jenkins appear to be followers of Harold Middlebrook Bevel stated that CriminalICourt' 7 Judge Ben Hooks, a Negro, who is also pastor of the Middle' Baptist Church, of which Middlebrook is Assistant Pastor, and who is on the National Executive Board of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), is hoping to bring the national convention of the SCLC to Memphis for 1968. Source one-continued that Middlebrook had formerly worked with King and his group in Atlanta and Birmingham and that he understood that Middlebrook took some of his theological training in Atlanta. He stated that Middlebrook appears to be particularly to the SCLQ, Bevel and King. . Source one pointed out that Bevel is moat effective speaker, particularly with regard to young people; that he preyed upon their feelings of avarice and envy, claimed that the white man will purposely not allow them to have enough of the economic goods in this country; and that the black man must learn to assume power, to control property, to control raw material, and to utilize his talents. He stated that the black man is presently not capable of doing this and pointed out as an illustration that "you could put all of the Negroes in the . United States on a large island and_have all of the necessary raw materials planted not more than two feet deep,and yet they could not survive because they would not have the knqw~how and the ability to utilize the raw material by turning the raw material into utilitarian products necessary for their survival." He pointed out these were some of the problems' DucId:59163166 Page 12D NH 3491 SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE, TENNESSEE that the black men had to overcome before he could control the United States. Bevel indicated that he and ht; wife, Diane Nash Bevel, -have been separated for some t1me and are posSibly divorCed. . . . It definitely appeared to source one that Bevel is organizing for the future., It was s1gnificant that thus far since SCLC people have been in Memphis, there has beer little or no talk of their recruiting supporters for . Martin Luther King' proposed "Poor Peoples' Camp-In." to begin in Washington, D. 0., April 22, 1968, although source one pointedqut that King will probably try to get commitments from various memphians prior to his departure, JAMES BEVEL -Beve1, in early March, be present at the offiCes-of the West Side W. E. B. BuBois Club in Chicago (DCA). Discussion took place at this time centering around reactiOn to a recent notification that the Attorney General of_ the United States intended to 1.abel the DuBois Clubs as Communist front. Bevel, in conversation, stated .that he would have ignored this notification and kept reboot the work in which he was engaged He felt that if the DuBois Clubs have real program of help for _people, then the people would answer for the c1ubs -despite any labels applied to them.r Most present egreeB that the a ttac on the DuBois Clubs was a part of the. plan by the "establishment" to undermine the civil rights -movement They felt that the recent hearings into Klan activities in th1s country were only a beginning which WOuld lend to a full-scale attack on the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the real te.rget. . one of those present Stated during the course of this discussion that he was not a Communist, and to this Bevel was 1 ;81 'PagE'121 NH 3491 SANITATION WORKERS MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE. 7 oVerheard to reply that every-think1ng American shquld be. He Stated that Negroes have not begun to read yet, but wb they do, they will a11 be socialists.g (Spurce two (Character1zat1ons 01 the W. E. DuBo1s Clubs e1 America (DOA) and the Natien 01 Islam (N01) are set 1qrtn in the Appendix Sectipn. On March 21, 1968, the 1nformation furnihe source one was orally furnished to -Lieutenant H. 7 but; Inspect1ona1 Bureau, Memphis PoliCe Department, and tq?f William Bray, 111th M11itary Intell1gence qups Memphis, Tennessee. 1 1 - DucId: 59163166. Page 122 the United Stateso Members following Muhammad's teachings and his interpretation of the "Koran" believe there is no such thing as a Negro; the so-celled Negroes are slaves of the white race, referred to as "white devils," in the United States; and the white race because of its exploitation of the so-called Negroes, must and will be destroyed in the approa?hing "War of Armageddon In the past9 officials end members of the N01, including Muhammad, have refused to register under the pro- visions of the Selective Service Acts and have declared- that members owe no allegiance to the United Stateso On May 5, 1958, the first source advised Muhammad had, upon advice of legal counsel, tempered his personal state_.11 of his organization in order to avoid possible prosecution by the United States GOvernment; however, he did not indicate any fundamente1 changes in the teachings of his organization. . APPENDIX - . 10 lI'.th: I - I I DDEIHI Page 123 I a ments and instructiOns to his ministers concerning the principles 1 .- . - '1111*111 1:1 112' 1 11:1 1 1:11;. . 1121111111-? 11; 1 ?11? "111 191 1?11111111 1:1 :1 APPE IIW ii? 1:9j 1g or 1111? anmw.1y Referred 1:0 1s .The Musli.m 0111'1zmh, Else known 3.5' Muhammad 'Eemnlee ot'Iilem - '111 1?11111111111 -. In IJehueIry,I1957 source e.dvised Elijah ,has described his organizetion' on net_ionwide basis ash1q1mj11?j11?g the "Nation of Islam" and ?Muhammad.s Temples of Isles 1111?f . I . 1I0n IMey 5,1967, a seeond' source advised ElinIeh Muhemhed is the netione.l leader of the Nation of Islam 3 11? 1111JH Muhhmmad' Temple of Islam Mor 2, 5335 South Greenwood 1111*gg Avenue, ChiIcago, Illinois, is the national headquarters of theI131 31 and: in. nid~1960 Muhammad and other N01 officials, when referring 'to Muhammad?s organisation on a nationwide hasis,1 1' Iu1?hth1 connenced using either "Mosque" or "Temp-la" when mentioning ?one of "MnIhemmhd? Tenp1.es of lIsleno" . 111-1? ?he M01 .isI eh alluNegro orgIanizet ion whichI wae1 Q11 ori.ginelly organized in 1930 'in Detroit, Michigan. Mu.hammad 11; clein13 to have been selected by Allah, the Supreme Being, to 1 lead the somcalled INegro race out of slavery in the wilderness of Mesh America by establishing an independent black nation in IN Hum?: 01? ISLAM May 2,1966,a third source adviSed unhammad I had, in early July; 1958, _dec1ded to denemphasize the I religious mapects of the teach1ngs of Islam- and to Stress 5 I the economic benefits to be derived by those Negroes who ., Joined the. ROI This policy change, according to Muhammad would he1p him acquire add1tional fo11owers and cr?ate more. interest 1n his programs?lzI?'lir?1:1'1: .l .1 11111313311111}! r'??cldi591631?? fPage 124*" I . .. . I I II . .. E?i: 'f . i. my gum; w. m; FACES CLUBS or AMERICA . 5 g, - int? i is; A scarce advised that on- October 26- 27, 1963, a cOn? lxyI forenCe of members of the- Communist Party, USA (CPUSA), ineluding -national functionaries, met in Chicago, Illinois, for the purpose 9 of setting in motion forces for the establishment of a new national Marxist?oriented youth organization whiCh would hunt for the most peaceful transition to socialism.: The delegates were told that - it would be reasonable to assume that the yOung socilists attracted r-into this new organization would eventually pass into the CP ?-'itself. - 3VA seCond source has adviSed that the founding canvention for the new youth organization Was heid from June 19- 21; 1964, M,j at 150 Go}.den G-ate Avenue, San Francisco, California, at which j*v?ig? n1 .time the name W. E. B. DuBOis Clubs of America (DOA) was adopted. Approximately 500 delegates from throughout the United States pf. attended this convention. . The second source adviSed in September, 1966, thAt Mike Youth DirectOr, stated that in Negro .communi.ties the Party still supported the plan to build "left" I socialist centers and to solidify the Party base through the I ., I DCA. This source also advised in September, 1966, that Daniel X, A Rubin, CPUSA National Organizational Secretary, stated the Party believes the DCA should have a working?classIoutlook and be a. I 'mass organisation favorable to socialism, ?socialist countries ,and Merxism, and in April, -1967, advised that Gus Hall, CPUSA ~,V,?General Secretary, indiCated the DCA primary emphasis should be .- developing mass resistance to the draft. if?i 3" . A third source advised in September, 1967, that Jarvis was elected chairman of the DCA on September 10, 1967, at the f. -Third NatiOnal Convention of the DCA held- in New York, INew York, a from September 8a10, 1967. . - A fourth sourCe advised during August, 1967, that Jarvis ['Tyner is a member of the National Committee of the CPUSA. f3 A fifth source advised on September 21,1967,tha gg?;It the headquarters of the DCA is lecated at 34 West 17th Street, I TQTCIC jNew York, TewI York Ag?yzgi (In 4" .I i, . Hi i135; -ICI I-IEII-I f: H?Eil'i i I 591531?? I I -I-- . CM. SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE This document Contains neither recommenQat;0ns nor conclusi?ns of the It is the property of the FBI andjs loaned to your'agency; it and its contents are not to be distribute.d outside your agency. 13* . NH 3491 Page-126 .. . .UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTIQE FEDERAL BUREAU INVESTIGATION . I In Reply. Please Refer to ?hnb Tennessee March 21, 1968 Title: -SANITATI0N WORKERS STRIKE, . MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE RACIAL MATTERS Reference: Memorandum dated M?d cht10ned as above prMered Mt Memph15, fenneMsee M11 sources (except any listed _b310M) identities Mre concealed in referenced- communithiOn have furnished reliMble infarthion in the past This document containM neither recommendations nor concluMionM o.f the FBII it is the property of the FBI and 1M loaned to your Mgengy, it and its contents Mre net to be distributed outside your agency, RH 3491 DucId:59163166 ?Page 12? nag?5 12-13-56) . . r" .1 Transmit the following in 0 1371 Date: 3/26/68 (Type in plain text or code) (Priority or Method of Mailing) MM: FBI 6M6, MEMPHIS, MM RM Mirtel LMM, 3/25/680 - . far the BureMM are 11 copieM of LHM chMionMd MM dated 3/26/66 b@ing to USA, Memphis, and Service, and to Regional Offices oi MilitMMy Two copies of LHM are being furnished to AtlantM cepy is fuMMiMhed t0 Detroit. TMM inf?rm?ti?m Met Out in the enclosed LHM furniSMQd on 3/26/68 to WILLIAM EBAY, _111th MilitMMy Memphis, and t0 Lt. H: Police Department. is ME 3 Bureau 11) (RM) 2 Atlanta (1 (REGISTERED MAIL) (1 a LUTHER KING, JR. nDEtr?it (EMM 1P: SEMMAM c. 15 7::16392) (1 a 157-556, Possible RMciMl Violence, .MM?brEUran Ar?Ms) (1 157c166 SCLC) (1 a 16?a4165, LUTHER MING MM (1 176576 6MP MM 338?R(Ghett?) a 66a166? Sub A, File) ;Z:u kr. 7 7 7 HEB-191 Special Page 135 MW If I ME 157ml?92? MEANS: . AALANIA AND DETROIT DINESAONS (INFORMATION) COpy is being furnish@d Detroit as Dr. C. L. FRANKLIN livgs and copies are being furnished to Atlanta SANQQ MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., and SCLC are headguartered there. MEMPHIS AIVISANA AT MEMPHIS Will cantimue t? follew and report pertinent astiVlti@S NH 3491 Page 136 3 enUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE . FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Memphis,mTennessee In Reply, Please Refer to March 26 1958 File No. Re: SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE, MEMIS, TENNESSEE RACIAL MATTERS The "Commercial Appeal" newSpaper, Memphis, Tennessee, reported in its issue of March 26, 1968, that-mediatibn talks on the issues of the 7=week?old sanitation strike in Memphis, Tennessee, ran for more than four hours on the afternoon of March 25, 1968, after. a brief interlude during which Chancellor Robert Hoffman, Shelby County Chancery Court, ruled that members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees who were under injunction in his court could represent the workers in their negotiations with the City. It will be recalled that it was originally reported on march 25, 1968, that Reverend Martin Luther King, President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), would lead a massive march in support of the strike in downtown Memphis on Friday, March 29,1968? 0n the late night of March 25, and the morning of March 26,1968,a first sourcewadvised that this was erroneous informatio Wind that a meeting had been held on ~the evening of Mar 25, 968, by the Caui.. M, Move the name adopted by the Memphis In7+*ienominational Ministerial Alliance, a '125 Negro ministers in Memphis, who are leading the strike support, during which time plans for the week beginning March 25, 1968, were formulated. These plans are as follows, according to source one: nngXEB On W53:esday night, March 27,1968,Dt375312h? ice PresidentuatmLarge, SCLC, will speak at Mason Temple, Memphis, at which time he will urge a massive work stappage on the part of Memphis Negroes and a boycott of the city schools by Negro students in order that thousands of Negroes can participate in a mass march 11 Bureau031; 1 - N180, 1 - NISO, Memphis, 1 111th MI, 'Memphis; 1 - 111th MI, Na hville; -USA, Memphis; 1 Secret Service, Memphis -Memph%s) (1 7- 109 100?4105 170-70 Sub -:gmh( . 3 59"" 7 . 1m 3491 EDS Page 'qa/ RH 3491 SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, to commence-at 10 Thursday, March 28, 1968, to leave from Clayborn Temple, Hernando and Pontotoc Street, Memphis. This march will be led by Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., who is expected to arrive in Memphis early on the morning of March 28,1968. On the night of March 28, 1968, Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., will address a mass strike support ral1y also to be held in Mason Temple; and on Friday night, March 29,1968, also in Mason Temple, a mass support rally will be addressed by Dr. C. Frankli also known as Reverend C. L. Franklin, ofm?etroit, M1chig?n.? Source one stated Franklin is a former Memphian,, is a leader in the National Baptist Convention, USA, headed by Dr. J. Jackson of Chicag ?1?1111nois, and is a renOwned Negro evangelist who former lived in Memphis and whOse daughter, Agathaw?nanglig is a nationally known . and blues singer. In the source's opinion, Franklin will draw a tremendous crowd due to not only his personal pOpularityi in the Negro religious community, but by virtue of the popularity of his daughter. It is planned by the COME leaders that both Dr. Franklin and Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., will remain in Memphis until Saturday, March 30, 1968, at which- time another mammoth march is scheduled in downtown Memphis, this again to commence at Clayborn Temple at 10 a. -. March 30,1968. Source one stated that in all probability when. the marchers come up Main sareet in front of the Memphis City Hall that King and others will probably Stop and address the marchers from the plaza area in front of the Memphis City Hall, The government plaza consists of four major buildings, all facing Main Street between Adams and Poplar, these being the City Hall, the Federal Building, the Tennessee State Office Building, and the Memphis Police Department; and seVeral thousand peOple could easily congregate, on the plaza. =2 Page 133 . RH 3491 SANITATICN WORKERS STRIKE, The above information furnished by source one - was orally furnished on March 26, 1968, to Lieutenant E. H. Arkin, InSpectional Bureau, Memphis, Tennessee, Police Department, and to William Bray, 111th Military Intelligencea;f? Corps, Third Army, Memphis, Tennessee Lieutenant Arkin advised on March 26, 1968, that on the late afternoon of March 25, 1968, a small march of strike sympathizers again was conducted-in downtown'_ _1 Memphis, consisting of approximately 2005most1y adults,? who marched from Clayborn Temple into the downtown Memphis area on Main Street. There were no incidents and no arrests. This document contains neither recommendatiOns nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to the distributed outside your agency. Page 139 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BUREAU OFINVESTIGATION Memphis, Tennessee F?ahh March 26, 1968 We; Title: SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Character: RACIAL MATTERS Reference: Memorandum prepared at Memphis, Tennessee, dated and captioned as aboveg A11 sources (except any listed below) whose 4 identities are concealed in referenced communication have furnished reliable information in the past.v This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents'are not to be distributed outside your agency. NH 3491 Page 140 1 .- i 5?51. 555: 5/5/55 CG ;3 Transmit the following in (Type in plain' 353:: or code) Via A MTEL 3553._ _3 51555555,551 ?5555-*3 555? 5555515 (15551555) (5) 5155555155 5555555 555155 131M 3 . .-. 3 3. . (?(,1th '5 555-5555515 - 1 -3 53? 0 Re 5555515 515151 555 LEE 55155 4/4/68 55515555 55555155 155 555 355555 555 11 555155, 555 for WFO, 5515515 555 6515550 3 capies 5555 and 155 Springfie1d: 511555555, and 5555515 2 .555155 _5555 of a 1555555555 5555555555 55555 4/5/55 554 555115555 55 55555. 3 5 555555 (E555.11) (Em) 1515515 (55555 31(55) (1515) (1 a WAETKW LUTHER KING, 1E. (1 W555155155 555155 5553555) (1 SCLC) 1 . 0515555 (E555.. (1 a 555515 155555 5155, 55. W555155505 55515g 1553555) (1 SOLO) Detroit (E553. 31(551 (1 a 157u8551551155 W555555 555155, 5555515) (1 MANUEL, JR. 2 5 511555555 (E555 EDKRW) - .35: (1 - 157m5551551155 W555555 515155, 5555515) - (1 a or JACK GERBER) 1;515?15? 2 Spr1ng?1?15 (E555 21(55) 3 . (15W-555. CARNES 05 6055155) 3 (5555 (l MAETLW LUTHER JR (1 SCLC) 3 (1 W555155555 555155 5551555) 5555515 (15791592) E3 -31 533,? 44.1: Sili?? .533, AR - 55* 1" ?355 _55? NH 3491 59115316 ME MEMPHIS CQPEES CONTINUED: Strike, Memphig, TRnn., RM. 157m556, Major Urban 157a109, SNCC LUTHER KING, JR, 157u166, 157u957, JOHN B. CRARLER GARBAGE lac-NEW, mm KERRY 15vasz . 157$sz RRJC RRJR . 157-NEW, THEODORE JR 157mm WELLER RJRR BROOKS W) o. .ub. RR ass?Rhetm? 137-1097, ?Rsuxng on Lgring 1 66m1637 Sub A, File RRmanR and U. Memphis, and to 0R Military Saurces RR LEM are RR followsEastern Alrlines, 5 Source three 15 "PT@SSaS@imii?? i S?urce Raur R8 of Security, my Sourae Rive RR NH 3491 Page 19 k11H B491 ATLANTA AND WASHINGTON FIELD Copies are being LurnisHSS Stlanta and WHO for infarmatiun in View of thair in SCLC, LUTHER KING, JR., and Washington Spring Project. CHICHGQ AT CHICAGQ, ILL. Will revi@w indices and canduat gradit and criwiw.sf checks JAMES KEMP, male Hegru, dam (33f birth-7 who said he has been living in Chicago with an aunt Sni 6;;Lm3 t9 be with the Black SSone Hangers DETROIT DIVISION AT DSTROKT, MICHIGAN Will review indicgs and check HStroit Police Department and credit records regarding MANUEL, JR., Negro male, barn 12/16/36, Memphis, T@nn MILWAUKEE DEVISIQE HT MELWHUHEH, Will search Lndices LL JAKE or JACK CONNOR and cnnduct criminal checks. DIVISIQN AT SPRINGFIELD, ILL. Will search indices re Black Liberation Front and Rev. (FNU) CARERS or COENS). LT CAIRO, ILL. Will cheek re Slack Liberation Front and Rev. ?34m DucId:59163166 Page ED ME 157al?92 ., . 3% EA LEADS (Qantinuad): MEMFHIS DIVISION. @516 mm. Will follaw and rgport additional develapmants ragarding ingtant mattar. NH 3491 Page 21 In Reply. Please Refer to ile No. NH 3491 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION donphiea Tennessee unpril 59 1968 Re: SANETATEQN WOREE313 TENNESSEEM RACIAL MATTERS On April 39 19689 a first source advised that a strategy needing nae held on the night of April 2 and early april 35 19689 attended by representatives of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference the Committee on the Move ion Equality the Memphis ministerial group which heretofore has furnished the prime support ion the sanitation workers Strike anion began February 12 1968; and regressetatiees of the Black Organizing Power (BOP), which source one stated is the Menpn1.s govering body of the black nationalists and slack militant novenent headed by the sel?maoolained leaders Charles Laverne Cabbage and John Boswell Smith? It was decided at this meeting that a legal staff will no set on to handle any legal matters developing in eonneo?ion with the strike and in connection with the mass naren originally scheduled for Friday? April 59 1968, to be led by Reverend Martin Luther Kinga Jr?, President of the it was decided that Jack Greenberg, head of the legal staff of the National Association for the Advancement of'Coloeed People New York, New York, would help to organize this legal staffG Source one advised that Hosea Williams, Director of Voter Registration and Political Education, SCLC9 eonnented that they would have to get lawyers "who will go all the way and who know all the angles.? Source one advised that at this meeting tnr?sw%??~ some representatives including Jesse Epps,Fie1d Director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipd? sedan representing the striking sanitation workers, who wanted to move the April 591968 nass naren up to April 8 DucId:59163166 Page 22 NH 3491 SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE order that numerous outmofmtown peeple could come and participate, particularly a representative crossesection of White people throughout the country, particularly labor peeple who could give an aura of integrated resyectability to the march and give it more of a trade union atmOSphere and take it out of the current racial atmOSphere into which it has evolved. Source one advised that Epps stated that the union is planning to have at least two if not more chartered plane loads of union peeple from the New York area to come to Memphis, nossibly to arrive late Sunday, April 7, or early Monday, April 8, 1968, in order to participate in the march which is being officially moved to April 8, 19680 . Source one advised that the group at this strategy meeting voted to include Blach Organising Power (BOP) into the overvall planning. Some of those present aenaskeptical about BOP because of the militant statements made by some of its members and feel that it cannot be trusted or controlled. Particularly critical of BOP were Bishon JD 0. Patterson, Sr., of the Church of God in Christa the father of J, 0. Patterson, Jr,, one of the three Negro members of the Memphis City Council, and Bishop Julian B. Smith, Bishop of the First EpiscoPal District CME Church with headquarters at 664 Vance, Memphis, Tennessee. Both Bishop Smith and BishOp Patterson stated that the BOP could not be trusted desPite the fact that some of the SCLC leaders insisted that the current movement would have to take on the complexion of a "united fronto" Source one pointed out that there is little doubt that the BQP group, small in number, probably not having more than fifteen closely connected members but with some followers on various college campuses and high schools in Memphis, is attempting to blackmail the leadership in the strike activity and in the preposed march activity. The source pointed out that they really have nothing to offer but a title and are attempting to gain finances, communications, and office Space in order to further their organization by giving the impression m2.? DucId:59163166 Page 23 NH 3491 0 cinnamon woaxnas STRIKE, Tennessee cease selling Hart?s bread, Wonder bread, and Coca Cola. He further stated that if they refused to cease selling these products that a massive Negro boycott will take place, during which no Negro will purchase any product from these reluctant or noncooPerative merchants, He further stated that he and bk; SCLC staff are working on a massive nationwide boycott of Plough, Inc., a Memphisubased pharmaceutical and patent medicine firm which is noted for its nationally advertised St, Joseph asPerin, because he claimed Plough has been somewhat discriminatory in its hiring practices, not having enough Negroes in high positions, and he is further concerned because Abe Plough, Chairman of the Board and founder of Plough, Inc,, is a close personal friend and political ally of Mayor Henry Loeb against whom the Negro community is now united and who has thus far refused to grant a dues checkmoff to the striking sanitation workers, this being the main obstacle to the settlement of the strike. 4 Source one advised that Jackson added that other unions, including the Teamsters Union, will probably cooperate in this boycott of Plough, Inc., and that it could well be that Plough nroducts will not be moved in any area of the United States it this boycott is successful. Also on April 3, 1968, Lieutenant E, H. Arkin, InSpectional Bureau, Memphis Police Department, advised that a reliable source of the Police Department who has always furnished reliable information in the past advised that a meeting of the BOP group, which sometimes intern changeably uses the name "Invaders, was held in the early evening of April 2,1968, in the Lorraine Motel, 406 Mulberry, Memphis, TennesSee. Arkin' source stated that some of the BOP group, including John Burrell Smith, Charles Cabbage, Charles Ballard, and Edwina Harrell, are staying at the Lorraine Motel with the SCLC group. Part of them are in Room 315. Among those present were John Burrell Smith, Charles Cabbage, Reverend James Orange oi the SCLC staff, and a Reverend (First Name Unknown) Carnes or Cornious of Cairo, Illinois, who is connected with the National Council of Churches (NCC) according to his claim and also connected with a "Black i4i DucId:59163166 Page 24 NH 3491 . SANITQTIGE that they can control pwt?ntial vimlence if thay are budgeted aad ?unded but that ii fumd? arg aot that ?they magnum be r?synn?ible {or what might hagpg?,? the gravy at th@ Strat?gy m@@?ing get my a cammi?teeship mangi?ting @f ReverQnd Ez?kial 39113 mala yastny GE Farkway Pragbytewian Church? ?amphis, aad Samu?3 Ea Kyles? ma?a ?egra, pastor 0i the Monumantal Bagtiat Chmwah, Hemyhig, Ten?eg?e?, and ?ever??d Ja?ga ataf? m?mber 0f has the titla 9f ?irawtmr Eweadba3k@m, Earthy? mi a?d i? underst?a? by ?ne ta b? from Chiaagmo iklinais, and currently in warking with ?ne SQLC gtaif. $his cummi?te? nf thrae @113 mark directly with the grmuy. ?t yra?ent, acawrding ta aeur?g @me, a1} fumd? lelac?ad f0? the sa?itatian wwrkers are funneled thraugh t?e CQME gr?u? and ham Ewy'is in?igtiug on gattiug same of thia maneye many @i those preggnt regent th?a and iael that all ma?ay snmuld legically go t0 the Eamitation wwrk?r?a Sou?u@ ana advi$?d that it wag alga disausg?d at the mgeting wh@th@r am not EMG march wauld b9 h$ld despita ?he fact that th& Hirike conceivably ceuld be S?ttl?d hetwean April 2 or 3 and April 8, 1968, and alga ?agpita the fact that the city oi Memphig was talking mf getting an injunction agains& any swan m?f?h, Smurce wa? advise? that the general uonsensu? 0% ?the meeting was that regardlegs of what ?appen? the march will ha held an? wii ha a m&?sive march. ?averand JEQEQ Jaeksum Gutiined in dgtail his ?Ew?adbag?gt? Statiwg that h$ will Se?d an? dirwct task farae? inta all areas 0f the Negrm cwmmuwity of MeM?hi?, regreganting some 243,000 geoplg in the ?egro cwm?unity, and wiil cantact individually ail storekeEpera 0r 1m these aweas and insi?t vary ?myhatiaailg that they immediately an?; .7. DucId:59163166 Page 25 NH 3491 sea WAT EON WORKERS see me Massage," items so as Liberation Frontt" These were several others present, names not hnoan, all of when were eithe.t members of elosely ai.filiateo n1 th or sympathetio thereto. Lieutenant ethinis source stated thatthe person claiming to he Cannes stated that he had been sent to Memphh; by the Black Liberation Front as an observer and he pledged money of an unspecified amount tor the Be? group it they would ?keep otessune on the shite nan.? Cashes told those present? "You have to burn his store and virtually have to burn him before you can bring him.atound." He was referring to the white man. Cannes (or Cosnious) added, according to ethin*s source, that the NCC has two million dollars to dispense-to at least five cities in the United States which have either had serious racial trouble or which may have serious racial trouble and that they place red stars beside the names of the prospective cities and that currently Memphis has a red star beside its name. According to Lieutenant Athln's source, Reverend ?anes Orange said that he would be willing to work with the black power group and BOP group and he urged to o00perate with Reverend Cannes, Orange pledged his support in the interim since Cannes stated that the earliest he could obtain any funds for the BOP groug would be April 15, 1968. John B. Smith got up and referred to BOP as a "Steamroller" and stated,"All we want is the money and we'll heep rolling." Following this, Charles Cabbage stated that the BOP group wants money to set no a black semen and to sell various goods, including-black literature in this store and also to teach hlach history at this storeu According to Lieutenant Arkin's source, another gong involting the BOP met at the Lorraine Motel at 9 p.m. on the night of Aoril 2, 1968, with all of the abovementioned individuals present, including Jesse Jackson who is in charge of ?Operation Bteadhashet, North" of the SCLC. Here the BOP group headed by Cabbage oomolained that Reverend James Morris Lawson, Jro, pastor of the Centenary Methodist Church, Memphis, who had been their main liaison with the COME l5? DucId:59163166 Page 26 RH 3491 0 3111111101 WORKERS 111111, . and atr1ke support group, was ioe11eotoa1 as Cabbage said WAll he deals in 15 theorya Re 11 met a guy for strategy and action and is inadequate 1o1 our program." He did not elaoo1ate. Cabbage 1111111 etated that with regard to the violence which erupted during the March 28, 1968, march led by B1 Martin Luthe1 K1ng, 11., Lawson had he done R11 homework would not have been caught by surprise because Lawson should have rea111ed that there was going to be violence on that day? again he did not elaborate other than to blame the trouble on Ma1oh 28 on a group of ?hustlers" a grouo o1 Beale Street and teenmage punks who were out to loot and create troob1e9aod Stated that they used the march as an excuse 101 ao doing. Cabbageglaughedr and said that none o1 Lawaoo?e infomaere had been among 1111 group to "tip 111 011 i: This aou1oe stated that those present d1scussed the 1aot that BOP wanted to be represented at all future meetiogo of COME and 111 SCLC and the onion, and that they are demanding fund money to Support BOP activities and nape to get it from COME 01 the offioe 01 Opportunity (0R0) o1 the'War on Pove1ty Committee (WOPC) in Memphis 11111 is tuooed by the OED out o1 Federal funds. Cabbage. eoggeeted that tR1oogR ite could get money from GED and the ROPC and that Ra1tio Luther King, J1., if he saw fit, oould also get 11111 101 thetao ?Thie source Stated that Reverend Jesse Jackson said that he was to aooertaio who BOP wanted to sponsor them in the 1uto1e o1 be 11111 liaison and they all agreed that Reverend B.Ky1eo of the Monumental Baptist Church would be a good moo. Lieutenant 11111 stated that his source later learned that a strategy meeting of the COME, SCLC, Union and BOP groups was held in Clayooro Temple on the might of April 23 1968, and that it was agreeo that'BOP would be repreaeoted in the futu1e in strategy meetings of these groups,? Hewotated that Reve1eod James Orange of the SCLC staff had promised that 30? would have an office of its own in the Minimum Salary Office of the AME Church next door to Clayborn Temple by 11111 39 19689 151 DucId:59163166 Page 2? NH 3491 0 _'4r SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE: Mantels, Lieutenant Arhin stated that his source advised that it was also discussed that since the Negroes in Memphis are now boycotting the two Memphis daily papers, the WCommercial Appeal? and theVPresseScimitar" the Negroes would have a deiinite problem in communicating with each other as to future plans and strategy and that they would have to bring economic pressure on the various radio stations in Memphis to give them free time in order to get their announcements to their people. Also on April 3, 1968, source one stated that Cahhage, John B, Snith, and Charles Ballard, along with Edwina Harrell, are all staying in and 316 of the Lorraine Motel. A Also on April 3,1966 source tno advised that at approximately 10: 42 a or Martin Luther King,Jr., President at SCLC, accompanied by sons of his staff, namely andren Young, Executive Director; Ralph D: Abernathy, Vice President at Large and Treasurer; Bernard Lee, Special Aide to or. ring; and Dorothy Cotton, all arrived in Memphis by Eastern Airlines from Atlanta, Georgia. This group was driven from the Airport, according to Lieutenant Arhin, on April 3,1968,1n two cars to the Centenary Methodist Church where a meeting was.he1d with COME, SCLC and -nnion peeple .One group, including King, was driven in a 1966 Buick Electra hearing 1968 Tennessee License which Arhin stated is registered to Thomas C. Matthews, 317 Carpenter Street, and some of the, group were driven in a yelloW Lincoln_ with a black top owned by Cornelia Crenshan, a torner manager of 6ne of the Memphis Housing Authority projects and who has been quite active in the COME and strike snpnort movement. Immediately prior to King's arrival, according to source three, on April 3, 1966, a.press conierence was helo in Clayborn'Tenple under the auspioes of COME and SCLC, at which Reverend hoseaAWillians, Director of Voter Registration-and Political Education of SCLC, was the main spokesman. he stated that the march had definitely been rescheduled for-April 8, 1968, but that SCLC was ready at =71 DucId:59163166 Page 23 NH 3491 0 SAN ION WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE any time to have a march but was deferring to the request of outstanding labor leaders and religious leaders throughout the United States who wanted it postponed in order that they would have time to come from various points throughout the United States in order that they might participate. He stated that many of these people would be arriving in Memphis on Sunday, April 7, 1968. Williams also told the press that the coordinating group had rewstructured their committees and had agreed to bring in young militant Negroes in order to give them more say in the strategy because they wanted to encourage participation of youths. He pointed out that the group would allow youths to be parade marshals in the April 8. 1968, march. Williams reported that COME, SCLC, and the Union had accepted a total "united black community participation of all pe0p1e in a nonviolent movement." He further stated that this group was creating a bureau of information and public relations to commence immediately and wand also escalate its boycott against the "Commercial Appeal" and "PresseScimitar, which he accused of egregiously biased reporting. He also stated that SCLC would set up a permanent chapter of "Operation Breadhasket" to be supervised by Reverend Jesse Jackson of the SCLC staff, understood by source three to be from Chicago, and he reiterated that local products which would immediately be boycotted through strong economic pressure on the part of the Negro community would be Hart's bread, Wonder bread, Sealtest Milk, and Coca Cola, as these companies had shown a definite racial bias in their Operations. He further stated that the group would Sponsor "bankwins" to try to induce the 240,000 Negroes in Memphis to move all of their bank accounts from white savings and loan companies and banks to Negro banking institutions and would also Sponsor an "insuranceein" inducing the same people to drOp their insurance policies with white firms and resinsure themselves with Negro insurance firmsc Later on April 3, 1968, source one stated that Dr. King was staying in Room 307 of the Lorraine Motel and that he had checked in there prior to going to the meeting at the Centenary Methodist Church having returned there for lunch with members of his staff and various representatives of COME and BOP. Source has stated that at the Centenary c.8? DucId:59163166 Page 29 HH 3&91 0 I SANITRTION WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Methodist Church he had addressed the ministers and introduced the "Breadhashet" program,outlined in detail by source three above, to those present, with Reverend Jesse Jackson being the person in charge of this groan. One of the outside groups there was Virgin Hortenstine, a white civil rights worker from Cincinnati, 0hio,_who has Spent the last several years working among indigent Negroes in Fayette and Haywood Counties, Tennessee. She had with her three young white persons and listed her address as 5541 henry Road, Cincinnati, Ohioa Those with her, phonetically, were Knlti Pichola, Hank Veyner, and Marian Branch, or Branroh. Virgie Hortenstine indicated that she keeps in close touch with Anne Braden, Associate Director of the Southern Conference Educational Fund, Inc, (SCEF), with headquarters at Louisville, Kentucky. (A characterization of the Southern Conference Educational Fund, Inc., is set forth in the Appendix of this communication.) Source one learned at this meeting that James Bevel of the SCLC staff has returned to Chicago, Illinois, from Memphis and is momentarily expected back in Memphis. 0n the afternoon of Api?il 3,1968,Mr Thomas L. Robinson, [hited States Attorney, Western Judicial District of Tennessee, Memphis, furnished a cepy of a temporary restraining order obtained officially at 12:40 April 3, 1968, issued by United States District Judge Bailey Brown, Memphis, Tennessee. This restraining order reads as follows: Ducl?:59163166 Page 30 NH 3491 SANITATION WORKERS seam, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE OF MEMPHIS, A Municipal Corporation, "Complainant. 'Ws. No. C=68m80 LUTHER KING, JRD, HOSEA WILLIAMS, REVEREND JAMES BEVEL, REVEREND JAMES ORANGE, RALPH D, ABERNATHY and BERNARD LEE, all NonmResidents of the State of Tennessee, "Defendants. RE STRA IN IN ORDER "On this day this cause case on to be heard before the Honorable Bailey Brown, Judge of the United States ?istrict Court for the Western District of Tennessee, western Division, on the verified complaint of the City of Memphis, a municipal corporation, praying that a temporary restraining order issue against Martin Luther King, Jr., Hosea Williams, Reverend James Bevel, Reverend James Orange, Ralph D. Abernathy and Bernard Lee, restraining them from leading or conducting a massive parade or march in the City of Memphis, and it is claimed by said complainant herein that it and its citizens will be irreparably damaged by reason of the fact that a similar parade or march which occurred on March 28, 1968 led by Martin Luther King, Jr. resulted in a riot causing mnltitudinous personal injury and property damage, and that the said march or parade is likely to cause great hazard, danger and irreparable injury to the complainant and the inhabitants of tie City of Memphis; and_ alga DucId:59163166 Page 31 HH B491 DueId:59163166 Page 32 0 SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, Tennessee "It appearing to the Court that it is preper that a temporary order should issue herein for a period not to exceed ten (10) days from the entry of this order, said order having been issued without notice for-the reason that the said defendants, martin Luther King, Jr., Hosea Williams, . Reverend James Bevel, Reverend James Orange, Ralph D. Abernathy and Bernard Lee, will, unless restrained, proceed immediately to carry on with the proposed march or parade and that immediate and irreparable loss and damage will result to the complainant and the inhabitants of the City of Memphis before the matter could he heard on notice, IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED That complainant's applica- tion for a temporary restraining order be granted upon its giving bond with security to be approved by the Clerk of this Court in the penal sum of $1000.00, securing the defendants against all loss or damage which may result from the issuance of this restraining order, if it should finally be determined that same was improvidently issued, or that_may be awarded to them by reason of the granting of the said order, and the said defendants, Martin Luther King, Jr., Hosea Williams, Reverend James Bevel, Reverend James Orange, Ralph- D. Abernathy . and Bernard Lee, their servants and employees and all persons acting under their authority, or in concert with them, are hereby Specifically restrained and enjoined from organizing or leading a parade or march in the City of Memphis until the further orders of the Court thereon. n. - "Dated this 3rd day of April, Heeg'at 12:40 o'clock P.M. :45: I "Bailey Brown a . in . .- HH B491 0 SANETATION tosses STRIKE, neurons, Tennessee Later on April 3, 1968, souroe one advised that warrants in connection aiththe temporary restraining order were served at the Lorraine hotel on the afternoon of April 3, 1968, by United States Marshal Cato Ellis and one of his Deputy Marshals Willie Durham, Memphis, on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Hosea Williams, Reverend James Orange, Ralph D. Abernathy, and Bernard Lee. Ellis and Durham were unable to serve the warrant on Bevel, which aotually was a restraining order, due to the fact that King told Ellis that Bevel had temporarily returned to Chicago and was expected bash in Manphis on the night of April 3, 1968, and that he would have Bevel contact Ellis in order that the Order could be served on him. Source lone advised that the Lorraine Motel was a ?beehive of activity" in that Reverend James Morris Lawson has set up Room 310 as a legal office and that already attorneys serving-the SCLC and COME groups are Lucius Burch, described by scores one as one of the more prominent attorneys in the city of Memphis, and his law associates William J. Michael Cody and his sonminmlaw David Caywood. also serving as attorneys were Walter Lee Bailey, Jr., a sale Negro, and Louis Lucas, a white attorney of the law firm of Sugarnon, Rather, Willis, and Lucas. This group is also bringing in a group of student lawyers from various Eastern universities, plus the University of Mississippi, for the purpose of taking complaints from various Negroes in Memphis who are claiming that they were victims of somcalled"police brutality" growing out of the March 28, 1968, disturbance in Memphis. This group is apparently sponsored by the NAACP, lno., fund, according to source one, It was indicated, however, that Lucius Burch will handle the over=all legal activities and that on the morning of April 4, 1968, Burch and his associates plan to appear in the Court of United States District Court Judge Bailey Brown, seeking to have his temporary restraining order set aside, thus Opening the door for the April 8, 1968, march. Source one added that BOP representatives Charles Cabbage, Edwina Harrell, and Don Neely all ate dinner with Dr. King and Dorothy Cotton and Andrew J. Young, the latter two being of the SCLC staff. Source one stated that Harrell .3129 DucId:59163166 Page 33- NH 3491 0 WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE is a sophomore at Mennhis State University (MSU) who has been living with some of the black poser people at the Lorraine Motel for the past several days. She lives at 2418 Gentry and attended Shellnan Cellege in Atlanta, Georgia, last year Source one stated tha.t Neely resides at 531 East McLenore and is an Oren College dropout and has been described by his brother as a fanatic follower of Charles Cahhage and Jehn B. Smith0 Source one further learned that James Morris Larson, Jr., pastor of the Centenary Methedist Church, who heretofore has been the liaison man from the COME group with the BOP forces, is definitely no longer in-accord with BOP and is extremely worried at the fact that BOP is being brought inte the COME, SCLC and Union coalition. His basis for concern is the fact that BOP is not disciplined, is definitely unpredictable9 and has given vent to statements advocating violence in the past. Lawson stated that no one could control then and he feels that their presence in the sealition will definitely divide the necessary and imperative united Negro ministerial support which COME has heretofore had, Source one advised that Hosea Williams on learning of Larson' concern told the COME green that while BOP is a divergent dissident, belligerent and militant group,, nevertheless they are 3Negroes and that the older people will have to make some effort to torn a united front with them and maintain liaison with thena Source stated that there is no doubt in his mind based on Lawson's consents and attitude that Lawson is bitter because Cabbage recently made a statement to Robert Analavage, staff writer fer the "Southern Patriot," official publication of the SCEF, to the effect that nonviolence in Memphis died on March 28,1968, as a result of the violence which occurred on that date and as a resnlt Martin Luther King, Jr., and his concept of nonviolence and James Morris Lawson, Jr., and his concept of nonviolence are Wdead, as far as leadership of Negroes is concerned. -Lanson appears to he most resentful of' this. slam DucId:59163166 Page 34 NH 3491 0 SANITATION STRIKE, Mannie, Larson nade the consent, according to source one, on April 3, 1968, that ?We had an excellent movement here- and BOP by his irresponsibility can ruin it." He stated that all BOP does is to beg noney and to criticize-and that it never offers anything construetive. Source one added that in connection with the meeting at the Lorraine Motel on the afternoon of April 3, 1968, that some of the BOP people were trying to call in other students and supporters iron throughout the city of Memphis to meet with then, Probable corroboration of this latter information was furnished by source tour on april 3, 1968, who advised that between 12:2o and 12:30 April 3, 1968, in the Student Center at Menphra State University, which has a group known as the Black Student Association (BSA), one of the leaders or which is Edwina Harrell oi the BOP Governing Body, some calls came over the public address system urging Ronald Ivy, Eric Fair, and Thomas Potter to immediately 0311 Rooms 310 and 315 of the Lorraine hotel or to cone thereif possible. Source tour stated that a few moments later another call came over the public address system asking for Donald Douglass or Robert Montgomery to call or cons to Room 316 of the Lorraine Motel. Source four advised that there is a Ronald Lewis Ivy,who is one of the leaders of the BSA group, a senion,who lives at 560 LaClede Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee, a male Negro, currently enrolled at MSU. Source four further advised that Donald Douglass is undoubtedly identical with Denald Eugene Douglass, a freshman student residing at 2036 Benton Street. Source four added that there is one Robert Montgomery enrolled in MSU, he being a freshman, residing at 1608 Waverly, and that he possibly could be identical with the Robert Montgomery who was paged. Source four added that there is one Eric Fair listed on the rolls of MSU, namely Eric Wardell Fair, a freshman student, listing no home address, with his telephone number shown as 324m0693. Source tour stated that there is one Thomas Potter listed in the MSU rolls, this being Thomas Eugene Potter, a freshman student, with no home address listed, home telephone shown as 946=3284. 3.14.1. DooId:59163166 Page 35 NH 3491 0 SANITATION worms STRIKE, nemesis, TENNESSEE Also on April 3, 1968, a fifth source advised that several roughmtalhing blank militants have been hanging around the Clayborn Temple, which is the noremormless strike supporter headquarters, on recent dates; and that on April 2, 1968, an individual identitied as Theodore Manuel, Jr., who is about 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 159 pounds, a male Negro, with medium brown complexion, claiming to be an original Memphis resident and recently of Detroit, Michigan, stated that he had been in Memphis about three weeks and bragged that on March 28, 1968, during the riot which developed during the march led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that he had been injured ostensibly by the police, was hit on the head, and injured in one of his elbows. He appears to be about 33 years of age. He said that at the time of the injury he went to the SW. Jeseph Hospital for treatment but left hurriedly when he.heard the police were coming. He did not elaborate. On April 3, 1968, Lieutenant George Feathers, Inspectional Bureau, Memphis Police Department, advised as follows: Feathers advised that the "Press=Scimitar" newSpaper, issue of March 29, 1968, carried a list of some of those people who had been treated at the hospitals for injuries received in connection with the March 28, 1968, riot and that Theodore Manuel, residence 949 Mosby, listing his occupation as a CPA, had been treated at St. Joseph Hospital for abrasions on his head and injuries to his left elbow. He refused X=ray treatment and discharged himself, not waiting for additional treatment. Source tire'stated that another young militant male Negro hanging around Clayborn Temple is Willie James Kinp, male Negro, about 23 years of age, nho_a11eged1y lives at 1015 Palermo. He hangs around with John Henry Ferguson, male Negro, age about 20, who lives at 1279 and source understands that both Ferguson and Kimp have already been arrested by the Memphis Police Department on about three different occasions since the strike began, on charges of Disorderly Conduct and general obstructive tactics. . ?15- DuoId:59163166 Page 36 NH 3491 0 SANITATION WORKERS sure its, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Source tine stated that another individual who showed up at the church, claiming to have black power connections, was one Jake or Jack Connor, male Negro, about 27 to 28 years of age, 5 feet in inches in height, heavyuset, weighing led to tea pounds, with a broad chest, and heavy head of hair worn in a senimAfro hair cut, This individual had medium brown skin with a small thin heard and a thin mustache. He carries a brown brief case, nears khaki pants and Delta (anhiemiength) boots. Connor indicated that he had been in Memphis about two or three days and had been invited in, He did not say who had invited him but stated that he was to contact John B. Smith who was supposed to be driving a nine Mustang and on hearing this Kimp told Jake or Jack Connor that it was not generally known but that John B, Smith was temporarily staying-at the Lorraine Motel. At this point, a male Negro preacher, age 38 to 40, name not known, told Connor that if he would wait he eculd take him ever to the Lorraine to contact Shith.? Some of these individuals, according to source five, have a special handshake; whereby they grab a person's hand normally, then grab his thumb, then grab his wrist, and then give him a regular-handshake which is some sort of a symbol of recognition. Source stated that Kinp told one of the individuals present that he has been staying in Chicago with an aunt, that King is not his real name, that his real name is Johnson, and that he has been connected with a black power group in Chicago, known as the Black Stone Rangers. Kimp indicated? that he recently had a Pontiac which was wrecked and he is trying to sell some magnetic wheels and the transmission which were salvaged therefrom. Source stated that another person present, tentatively ident ii ied by source fine, was Verdell Brooks, ostensibly connected with the BOP group and a student at Owen College. Brooks indicated that he had to "lay low" and might have to leave town. He did not have to elaborate nor did any of the others present. King stated that two or other "Black Stone Rangers" were in town with hin? misc; DuoId:59163166 Page 3? NH 3491 0 ex ?5 SANITATION WORKERS em IKE, MEMPHISL TENNESSEE Source five noted that Manuel challenges all people whom he does not know and exhibited a gash in his head and a swollen elbow. He feels that he has a lot to offer Memphis because he claimed he had been involved in a race riot in Detroit in the Summer of 1967 and claimed that he was connected with some unidentified black nationalist group in Detroit? Kimp also kept mentioning the group known as ?Invaders," apparently connected with the BOP group in Memphis, and indicated that he would soon he doing some recruiting for this group. Manuel talked to Kiqpin some detail about this group. Source five advised that another unidentified Negro present who appeared to be pert of this group was 6 feet 2 or 3 inches tall, heavy build, weighing possibly 220 pounds had a dark heavy beard although the heard was thine due to the paucity of hair on his face, He indicated he was from Alabama The information set forth above was orally furnished on April 3, 1968 to representatives of the 111th Military Intelligence Group, Third Army, Memphis, and to Lieutenant Arkin and Lieutenant George Feathers of the InsPectional Bureau, Memphis Police Department a1 7.3: DucId:59163166 Page 33 NH 3491 0 6- SANITATION wonmns MEMPHIS, taunt-sens APPENDIX 1 SOUTHERN CONFERENCE EDUCATEGNAL FUNB, INC. (SCEF) The Southern Conference for Human Welfare (SCHW) was cited as a Communist front hy the House Committee on Un=American Activities, House Report 592, June 12, 1947, In the same house report, ?The Southern Patriot," was cited as an "organ" of the SCHW, An amendment to the charter of the SCHW dated April 26, 1946, changed its name to the Southern ConierenCe Educational Fund, Incorporated (SCEF) and stated its purpose to be to improve ?the educational and cultural standards cf the Southern peonle in accordance with the highest American democratic institutions, traditions, and ideals, The masthead of the April, 1967, issue of ?The Southern Patriot" indicates that it is the publication or SCEF, editorial and business offices of which are located at 3210 West Broadway, Louisville, Kentucky, Eastern Office of which is located at Suite 412, 799 Broadway, New Yerh City, New York. "The Southern Patriot" is published once each month, except July. The SCEF is stated to be dedicated to ending discrimination based on race, creed, colOr, sex, national origin, or economic condition. Carl Braden is identified as Executive Director of SCEF and Anne Braden as editor of WThe Southern Patriot." Mrs. Alberta Ahearn, 2311 Payne Street, Louisville, Kentucky, a seliaadmitted former member of the Communist Party (CP), Louisville, Kentucky, testified on December 11, and 13,-1954 in Jefferson County, Kentucky Criminal Court in a state sedition prosecution against Carl James Braden. She identified Carl Braden and his wife, Anne McCarty Braden, as having been known to her as members of the CP from January, 1951, to December, 1954. The SCEF is seltedescribed as having deep roots in the South where it began as the educational wing of the SCHW, organized in 1938 to work for economiC'and political reform. When the SCHW disbanded in the late 1940's, SCEF miss daemon; DucId:59163166 Page 39 NH 3491 0 a SAN ITAT ION WORERS STE 1m TENNESSEE 2 APPENDIX SOUTHERN CONFERENCE EDMCATIQNAL FUND, ENC. (continued): continued as an independent organization, rallying support for integration and demooracy and helping to stimulate and nurture new movements of the early 1960's. The SCEF maintained headquarters in Louisiana for twenty years, but in 1966 moved its headquarters to Louisville, Kentucky. A source advised on March 2, 1961, that Claude Lightioot, a Communist Party functionary, stated at a meeting of the Communist Party in Baltimore, Maryland, on February 25, 1961, that the Communist Party is not connected with any progressive movement but indirectly they do have some influence in the SCEF. A second source, who is familiar with some phases of Communist Party activity in the New Orleans area; advised on June 3, 1966, that during the time that the SCHW was in existence, members of the Communist Party were members of and worked actively in the however, since the formation of the SCEF, Communist Party members have not been encouraged_ to work in the The source stated that the SCEF is a progressive, liberal organisation, which he considers a Communist Party front organisation because it has gone along with the Communist Party on certain issues, particularly on the racial issue. A third source advised on May 25, 1965, that George Meyers, a Communist Party functionary, expressed great admiration for Carl and Anne Braden and the SCEF, with which they are affiliated, and espressed the view that the SCEF is the best organization in the South as far as doing effective worh is concerned and that they have a better idea of what they are_doing, where they are heading, and influence other organizations for the better. The second source also advised on June 3, 1966, that many people who are officials and supporters of the SCEF, while liberal in their views, are by no means Communists. =19a APPENDIX DucId:59163166 Page 40 0? WORKERS STRIKE, MEMEHISE TENNESSEE This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agencyg'it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. snow-m NH 3491 Page 41 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE hr?mb;?hueR?wua Hana Memphis, Tennessee April 5,1968 Title: SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Character: Reference: Memorandum_prepared at Memphis, Tennessee, dated and captioned as above. . A11 sources (except any listed below) whose identities are concealed in referenced communication have furnished reliable information in the past. This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. NH 3491 Page 42 DateTronsm1t the followmg in (Type plain text or code) . 4/ . - I (Priority or Method of Mailing) To} I omnc'ron, FBI BY ?97 AU SAC, MEMPHIS (l57m1092) (P) SAN ETAT ION WORKERS IKE, WPHIS, TWNESSEE - AWE. 3?i . RM 9 933133" ?Sr?ifl?i??i A 00: Memphis . Dy?loht?' git! Re momphin airtol and LHM dated 4/5/68. Enclosed herewith for the Bureau are 11 copioss for WFO 3 copies, for Atlanta 3 copies, and for Detr01t 2 copies of LEM captioned as above and dated 4/6/68. Copies are being furnished to U. S. Attorney, Memphis, and U. 5 Secret Service, Memphis, as well as - to Regional Offices of Military Intelligence 3 a BurGAu . .?335j:39* 3 Atlanta (Enos 3)(RM)(Info) ~i?wa?if (1 a SCLC) (1 A MARTIN LUTHER KING an.) 3 (1 - Washington Spring Project); 2 a Detroit (Enos. 3 a UFO (Enos (1 a SCLC) (1 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.) 3 (1 a. Washington Spring Projoct) 18 Memphis (1 a 157m1092) .1, (1 157u109 SNCC) (1 157a556: Possible Racial Violence, Major . (1 157m166, SCLC) ?kr?f?loom4105, MARTIN LUTHER KING (1 A 170m70 sub, (1 loomAszs ALAS CABBAGE) 312? A . 'Efr? 5 - ?mm Au HAL-- 29 @914 . . Sent eciaMe nt in Charge NH 3491 Page 2 ME 15711092 QQM MEMPHIS COPIES CONTINUED: 157unnw, ALLARICK no KENZIE 111 MURRAY AUSTIN 157~957, JOHN en SMITH 15711000, JAMES ennonn PHILLIPS 157-1114, DONLD NEELY 157-1111, MALCOLM DOUGLAS BLACKBURN 66m1687 Sub A, Dissemination File_ 1::me Gamma ma: tau-u:- Sources utilized in enclosed LHM are as follows: Source one is'EiE Source two is FMAmri?(m Eastern Air11nes, Mempn1s, Tenn. LEADS: ATLANTA DIVISEON (ENFO) Information copies are being furniShed Atlanta in View of the interest of that division in MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., SCLC, and the Washington Spring Project. DETROET DIVISION AT DETROITB MICE. Will advise of any information concerning the soaoalled Detroit church group urging "Blaok Militant Groups" as mentioned in enclosed LEM. -21. 3491 Page 3 ME 157?1092 . InDIVISION AT WASHINGTON, c. Will search indices re ERNEST SMITH of Washington, D. 0., connected with the Race and Raligion Division of Methodist Church MEMPHIS DIVISION AT MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Will follow activities at Memphis and report developments, HH B491 Page 4 .4 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE .FEDERAL BUREAU OFINVESTIGATION Memphis, Tennessee April 6, 1968 g: six-i: at - I NH 3491 Why Be: SAN mar ion worsens arth #234 narrate, We anoint antenna The following is a summary of activities in Memphis, Tennessee, received on April 4 and occurring on late April 3 and on April 4 1968, as specified herein- aiter: The ?Commercial AppealW newspaper, issue of April 49 19689 in a story on page 8 reported that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr,9 on the night of April 3,'19689 spoke to more than two thousand persons at Mason Temple in connection with the sanitation norhers strike at Memphis,_Tennesseeg which hogan Fehrnary 12, 1968. Dr. 'King emphasized that a scheduled nass march must be held Monday, April 8, 19689 to 00re=ioons attention on the eight- weehaold sanitation workers strike He the police dogs and fire hoses in Alabama couldn?t stop us, an injunction in Memphis, Tennessee can't He stated that the violence which had erupted during the March 28,1968, mass march led by his caused the tension to focus on the ?broken winders.? He said?That"s that happens when you have a little violenceo The press eoneentrated on the broken windows and-not the issues;?' He stated that the Southern Christian Leadership Centerenee (SCLC) lawyers were going into United States-District Court on the morning of April 4, l968, to fight the temporary restraining order issued on April 3, 1968, by United States District Court Judge Bailey Brown against further marshes in Memphis, Tennessee Dr. King again called for eoononic boycotts against leading hemphis businesses. He said don't need bricks and bottles and Molotov cochtails._ We're building an econonic baSQ and Putting pressure there it hurts p, asst sJ??g?e The paper continued that Dr King again urges~t*nn persons to leave norh and sohool to join the April 8,1968, scheduled march The paper reported that he was againasmi- scheduled to speah on the night of April 4, 1968, also at Mason Temple gin. .. Max {4/052 58 DunId:59163166 Page 5 NH 3491 SANITATEON WORKERS STRIKE, annals, Tennessee The paper also reported that Dr. Ralph Abernathy, Executive Vice President oi SCLC, spots and praised Dr. King, saying that deepite Dr. hinges honors, he had not yet decided to be President oi the United States, adding, "But he is the man who tells the President what to dog" The paper also reported in this story that the last battalion of the Tennessee National Guard had been released from aotiee duty and that the 200 Tennessee highway Patrol Troopers who had been on duty since March 28, 1968, had also returned hose on late April 3, 1968. Also on April 4, 1968, a first source advised that a strategy meeting was held on the night of April 3 and early morning of April 4, 1968, at the Minimum Salary of the CME Church, next door to Clayhotn Temple, which has been the unofficial headquarters of the groups supporting the sanitation strikers, namely the Community on the Move for Equality (COME), a group of Menphis ministers,and the SCLC, and recently the slash Organising Power (BOP), which, according to its leaders Charles Laverne Cabbage and John Barrell Smith, is affiliated fraternally with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, The big problem nhioh developed, according to source one, was the fast that Cahhage and his BOP group want to gain importance. They want to give the illusion to the Negro leaders in Memphis that they are the only force which can control militant Negro youths in Memphis and can prevent trouble if necessary and they are emphasizing that if the COME and the SOLO group provide them with sufficient money, with no strings attached, that they will possibly work to maintain a status of nonviolenoe in Memphis. The other problem discussed was that oi organizing parade marshals and making efforts to pinpoint those who might cause trouble in the scheduled Agril 8, 1968, mass march. aza DucId:59163166 Page 6 - (C) snarrarron WORKERS narrate, According to source one, Cabbage hept claim1ng to have the power to do things hut when the m1nisters1L and SCLC people present pinned him donn, he was vague At one point, Cabbage girl friend, also a member of the governing body of BOP, namely Edwina Jeanette Harrell, said, ?All of this talk and nothing accomplished. Source one advised that another representative or BOP, in addition to harrell, was Charles Steven Ballard, an Owen college student, . Source one adviSed that the meeting was chaired by Reverend James Morris Lawson, Jr,, pastor of the Centenary Methodist Church, MemphisG 3 Source one advised that another person present 1 at this meeting was a can semimmili an -ahout 17 years of age, Northside High School in Memphis, but it could not_he definitely determined if he was part'of the BOP group? He criticised Martin Luther King, Jr., for only preaching nonviolence in the Beale Street area of Memphis, saying that Beale Street had nothing but a hunch of old men and that it King really wanted to accomplish something, he should go into the housing projects and other fringe Negro ghetto areas and talk with youths in those areas, as those youths generally represented the most militant Negro youths in Memphis, Source one advised that the group present decided that workshops would begin in Mason Temple on the afternoon of April 4, 1968, preceding the night of April 4, 1968, mass meeting; and that at these workshops SCLC personnel would teach their methods of nonviolent marching and parade marshaling. It was decided that, for example, Reverend Henry Logan Starks, pastor of the Sto James AME Church and a member or the COME group, would he a top deputy marshal and it was up to him to obtain 25 ministers who would serve as marshals under his guidance, It was decided that Charles Laverne Cabbage would he a top deputy marshal and that it was up to him to provide 25 of his ESP and related people as marshals, although. =43m. NH 3491 Page NH 3491 SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Cabbage indicated that he did not have 25 BOP members but had allies and associates in his movement of a larger number at_the various colleges. it was also decided that SCLC would provide marshals of an undetermined number. Source one stated that Cabbage resented the fact, that SCLC was to train the marshals and kept saying, "We don't need outsiders to come into Memphis and tell us what to do According to source one? Andrew Young of the SCLC staff tried to diplomatically tell Cabbage that SCLC merely wanted to lend the benefit of its vast experience and counsel based on numerous task marches throughout the country. Source one stated that Cabbage very definitely appeared to be "trying to drOp a pigeon on the COME and SCLC groupf'explaining that this was a form of blackmail on his part where he in effect was saying to them, "Give us money or we can't be reSponsible for any violence which might happen." One of the leading strike supporters, Cornelia Crenshaw, a Negro political leader in Memphis, stated that she definitely would be opposed to any of the strike support funds raised by COME being diverted to subsidize a special group such as Cabbage's . Source one stated that also Opposing the giving of any money to Cabbage and his group were Dr. Vasco A, Smith; Jr,, and wife,Mrs. Maxine Smith, Dr. Smith being the Vice President and Smith being the Executive Secretary.of the NAACP Chapter in Memphis Tennessee They felt that Cabbage merely wanted to get a foothold in the Negro movement in Memphis and that it could give the Negro movement a bad_imagea . . DuoId:59163166 Page 3 NH 3491 SANITATION WORKERS err, ma, MEWHIS, TENNESSEE Source one stated that also present was one Ernest Smith, a male Negro9 middle age, who stated that he was with some braheh of the Methodist Church in washington, Do C., having to do with race and religion. He seemed to be much impressed with Cabbage and in fact gave Cabbage a callihg card, listing his Memphis motel address and asking that Cabbage contact him on April 4, 1968, for a conference? Source one stated that Bernard Lee, Administrative Aide to Dro King? stated that Cabbage had also "conned" SCLC out of $167000, which came out of SCLC headquarters in Atlanta, this money given to Cabbage ostensibly to pay for the motel rooms at the Lorraine Hotel which he, John.Smith, Edwina . Harrell and others had been occupying since around March 30, 19680 Lee further stated that it appeared that Dr. Martin- Luther King Jro, and his group were unable to get through to Cabbage and his group and to convince them of their philosophy of nonviolence. Leestated that it appeared that Cabbage wants money now without being able to give any firm commitments. Source one pointed out that Cabbage, Edwina Harrell, aadlballard all used extremely vulgar and foul language in this meeting attended by several prominent Negro ministers and Negro women. Also source one pointed out that as an example of the utter brazen disrespect shown by Cabbage and his group could be best described by an incident which occurred earlier on April 3, 1968, at the Lorraine Hotel when Cabbage in his room told Edwina he wanted her to go.and arrange - for a conference with Bra King and he said it in the following manner, want you to go down there and tell that Nigger King that I want him to.come up here and see me." one pointed out that as of the night of April 3, 1968,iit had also been determined that James'Phillips of.the BOP governing body, John Burrell Smith, and Verdell Brooks of the governing body of BOP, along with Don Neely, 531 East McLemore, Memphis, 3 new follower of the BOP group, were all in the Lorraine Hotel prior to the aboveudescribed mass meeting?;g DucId:59163166 Page 9 SANITATION memes 3mm, Tennessee At this meeting also at the Lorraine Hotel, John Burrell Smith oleinen thet he is giving regularly a portion of his GI educational hill ohech which he receives by virtue of his nttendenee ht Owen College to the BOP treasury,and James Elmore shillins, en Owen College student, stated that he had already given over $100 to the BOP treesurya Phillips and Smith argued quite vehemently, talking in a crazy and vague manner? being highly emotionali and dramatiogend little they said made sense. Source one advised that also on the late evening of April 3, 1968, Bernese Lee of the SCLC staff lamented the fact that the SCLC peoplep including Dew King, had consistently net with the BOP group but had concluded that- the BOP group is too innetient in thet it meets instant action, instant suooess, and instent coupled with the fact that the BOP group does not trust nnyonec Lee stated that despite this the SCLG group would try to help BOP but added, ?We won?t be blackmailed by them." Also on the late evening of April 3, 1968, according to source one, Hoses Williams, of the SCLC, told John Burrell? Smith and Chesles Cehhege that he end Reverend Janos Orange of the SCLC staff would he willing to continue to talk with? them, Williams stating that he and Orange wereprobebly better able emotionally to deal with people like Cabbage? He did not elaborate, Source one else reoelled on the late of April 3, 19682 Reverend Janos Lesson node the statement, "Thank goodness there wes riot in Memphis lest week (March 28, 1968) because without it no wouldn't have gotten all the outside help end attentionp snoh no that furnished by Lawson ended, however? that despite the feet that violence had occurred, he could not personally es minister of the gosPel condone' violence Source one stated that Lesson nede soother comment, "We'll try to get along with EDP We'll just do the best we sang? Lawson stated that the Memphis Police Department and law enforcement in generel needed to take more preventive measures in dealing with the problem of Negroes in large cities that it needed hotter treining- of its personnel and ?36:2- DucId:59163166 Page ID NH 3491 SAN ITAT ION WORKERS seam, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE that by the same tohen, the people preparing for large downtown marches had a duty to train and have more and better parade marshals to keep the marchers in line, . Source one stated that Larson said that he h0ped that King would be able to go into the Negro neighborhoods and talk with the young Negro militants and preach nonviolence to themn Also according to source one,9 on the night of April 3, 1968, Reverend Williams Smith of the COME group tried to get over to Cabbage that he needed to talk prevention rather than violence. Source one pointed out that Cabbage stated that he would never tell COME or SCLC how to prevent violence and Cabbage gave every impression in his ambiguous, vague statements of being a "dreamerg" and stated that he has visions of a massive black political movement of an undetermined nature in the United States. Also source one added that on the late night of April 39 1968, Mrso Maxine Smith stated that the NAACP would lend its support to the April 8, 19685 march but that she could not get any satisfaction out of talking with Charles Cabbage as he was too militant and too distrustful. Source one added that Cabbage had confidentially mentioned to one of hrsciose associates on the early morning of April 43 19689 that he and his group would soon be moving from the Lorraine Hotel and that they would leave SCLC reSponsible for paying the Hotel bill. Source one added that considerable dissension has arisen between King and his aides and the American Federation of Statea County and Municipal Employees Union, . which is representing the striking norhersa in that the Union wants to bring thousands of people to Memphis in the mass march on April 83 1968 whereas King and his group are worried feeling that if these people come to Memphis they will spend large amounts of money, time and effort and will be less lihely to support his Washington Spring Projectg scheduled to begin in Washington on April 22,1968.? DocId:59163166 Page 11 NH 3491 SANETATIQN WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE On April 4, 1968, Lieutenant E. H. Arkin, lnspectional Bureau, Memphis, Tennessee, Police Department,- advised that a confidential source who had furnished the Police Department extremely reliable information in the past had reported on April 4, 1968, that the BOP will definitely take part and participate in future strategy meetings involving and COME, .This source further told Arkin that Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr,, appeared at a noon ministerial nesting at the Centenary Methodist Church on April 3, 1968, to give the reasons for being in Memphis, stating that his purpose in returning to Memphis was to lead a march on April 8, 19683-and he denied that he, perscnally, as well as the sanitation workers, was responsible in any manner for the racial trouble that was developed during the Marsh 28, 1968, march. King.told the ninisters that the troublemakers aneactually to he pitied for all they have ever hnonn is poverty and the economic war attendant to living in poverty. He explained the "Operation Breadbasket? program and ecenonic boycott pregram of white businesses which was being spearheaded by one of his assistants, Reverend Jesse Jackson of Chicago, Illinois, Lieutenant Arhin's source also reported that at the Lorraine Hotel on April 3, 1968, John Harrell Smith and Charles Cabbage, along with other BOP personnel, personally net with Dr. King and his staiigand John Burrell Smith kept saying to King and his group, WWhat?s more important, Memphis or Washington?" In discussing, according to Arhin's.source, the temporary injunction issued by Memphis United States District Court Judge Bailey on April 3, 1968, restricting and preventing any marches for a period of ten days King stated that he weuld have to consult with his -star? before deciding whether or not to march in defiance of the order and that he at first thought United States President Lyndon B. Jehnson was responsible for the injunction hoping thereby to set a precedent for preventing his group from engaging in the Washington Spring Project, a massive influx of poverty stricken people to the Nation's Capital beginning on April 22, l968,~ Lieutenant Arkin's source further stated that at about 4 p.n.,.Apri1 3, 1968, King eases DucId:59163166 Page 12 SANITATION seams, TENNESSEE net with the BOP group and that among those meeting were Martin Luther King, Jr., John Burrell Smith, Charles Cabbage, and one Onee McKenzie, a young Negro male. Also at the meeting were Edwina Harrell and a young man called Philo Jesse Jackson, Hosea Williams, and Andrew J. Young all of the SCLC staff were also at the meeting. At this meeting Cahhage asked for immediate money to use by BOP to start a School" and a "Black Cou0p," at which black culture and black history could be taught and through which Black literature could be sold. Cahhage indicated that he had a sepoint pregram which he did not pinpoint and that he needed money. He at first started talking in terns of two million dollars. According to Lieutenant Arkin's source, Martin Luther King, Jr., told Cahhage that he would use his influence in a group of churches recently formed in Detroit and that this new church group had set up a program of giving financial aid to black militant groupso King stated that this church group, not further desoriheda would give money to eight different cities and would channel this through Andrew J. Young of his staff and that Young could handle the mechanics and set up an outline but would have to have a better plan and finalized program from Cabbage before pursuing this further, King told Cabbage that he would have to reawrite his plano Andrew Young stated that he would help write up a plan for In the opinion of Arhin's source, King and his grOup will give money to BOP in order to Keep them in line and to keep them following a violent pattern, particularly while King and his group are in Memphiso King concluded that,regardless, the BOP group would definitely have to he recOgnined hy the Negro leadership- in Memphiso As an aftermath of this meeting, according.to Lieutenant Arhin?s sounoe, several of the BOP people were drinking a highly alcoholic content cough medicine and getting drunk on it and that James Phillips, the individual a 2 ago RH 3491 DucId:59163166 Page 13 I NH 3491 SAN rrAT ION WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE previously referred to as Phil, got into a highly emotional argument with John Harrell Smith and actually broke down and cried, This group indicated that they obtained something similar to marijuana or some sort or intoxicant from a Beale Street character named Jiggs. They did not elaborate, Lieutenant Arhin added that his source commented on the mass meeting on the night of April 3, 1968, at which King and Ralph D, Abernathy spoke, adding that in addition to their speeches that Reverend James Morris Lawson, Jr,, spoke, giving an emotional speech concerning the police shooting of a l7myearaold male Negro named Larry Payne during the March 28, 1968, rioting and looting in Memphis. .Laeson stated that this was police brutality at its worst and was a continuation of brutality as "we,the black people" have known for a long, long time, Larson stated that neither Mace, snow nor the new injunction would stop any future marches, Also speaking was Reverend Malcolm Douglas Blackburn, pastor of the Clayhorn Temple, in which Speech he compared the Memphis marches with Jericho of Biblical times and stated that "We?ll march until the walls of Memphis crumble," Later on April 4, 1968, a second source advised that Dorothy Cotton of the SCLC staff had left Memphis at 11:20 via Eastern Airlines en route to Atlanta, Georgia. This source later stated that at 4:30 April 4, 1968, Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr., Ralph D. Abernathy and Andrew J. Young had made arrangements to fly to Atlanta, Georgia, one way, with no return reservations being made, to leave Memphis at 7 April 5, 1968, aboard Eastern Airlines Flight 384, due to arrive at Atlanta at 9:03 EST. slow DucId:59163166 Page 14 NH 3491 SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, Tennessee At about 6:07 April 4, 1968, Lieutenant E, H, Arhin, Memphis Police department, advised that Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr., had been shot by an unknown assailant as he was standing in front of the Lorraine Hotel, 406 Mulberry Street, Memphis, Tennessee. Later on the evening of April 4, 1968, Captain Jewell Go Ray, Inspectional Bureau, Memphis Police Department, advised that the Memphis Police Department had determined from preliminary investigation that the shot which felled Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., had been fired from an upstairs window at a cheap rooming house or "flop" house at 422% South Main Street, the rear windows of whiehgwould overlooh an open lot giving a direct View to the treat of the Lorraine Hhtel, and that a .30 caliber automatic rifle and a cardboard box, a blue suitcase and hex of .30 caliber shells had-been found in the immediate vicinity of the flap house. Captain Ray also stated that the assailant, a white male, who had registered in the flop house earlier on April 4, 1968, as one John Willard, giving.no address, had allegedly fled on foot and was possibly seen jumping into a white Mustang or similar white caro 0n the evening of April 4, 1968, Steve McCall, Military Intelligence Corps, Third Army, Memphis, advised that the Governor of Tennessee, Buford Ellington, had ordered the Tennessee National Guard to immediate duty in Memphis, Tennessee, and that approximately 3,400 ,Quardsnen were en route, all caning from West Tennessee Guard units and that two units from Middle Tennessee were being flown to Memphis. He stated that the Guard would be quartered at Armour Station, a substation of the Memphis Police Department, at the Memphis Eairgrounds, and at the Tennessee Air National Guard installation, at the Memphi Municipal Airport. .- Later on the-night or April 4, 1968, Captain Ray and Lieutenant E, H, Arhin and Lieutenant George Feathers, all of the laspeetional Bareau of theMenphis Police Department advised that a curfew had been placed into effect; that all restaurants,and pnhlic amusement places had been? closed; and that sporadic hurnings and lootings 311e, DupId:59163166 Page 15 WORKERS STRIKE, mum s, TENNESSEE (.4 -were.tahihg place, particularly in the Negro areas of Memphis, primarily involving liquor stores and sundry stores, and thet a large fire had been placed at a lumber f?yard off North Second Streeto Th%79@imted out that some officers had been shot at by unidentified snipers, but that as of midnight the situation was reasonably in hand although the fire department,in answering some calls, had been bombarded by bottles and rocks and in those instances where the police could not release_sufficient .pers0hnel to guard them, the fire department called gits~men back and allowed the fires to hurha -They {stated that the only real serious fire that he knew of was the lumber yard fire.ih North Memphis. . --.. Lieutenant Arkih stated on April 4, 1968, that edurihg the.dey of April 4, 1968, hearings hed.beeh held in the_Court'of Judge Bailey Brown on the pert.of attorneys? W- representihg'the SCLC and the City of Memphis to determine ;61 whether or not Judge Brewh should withdrew his temporary reStrainiugierder on future marches or should modify it. a, As of the close of the'Court's business day, Judge Brown s?j announced that he would hold in eheyehce his deeisidn and I would give it on the morning of April 5, 1968? The information obtained during April 4,,1963," was furnished to representatives of the Military Intelligence Corps, Third Army, Memphis, Tennessee,' as Well as to representatives of the Inspectional Bureau, Memphis Police Department?, ., em This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the}EBIaijltyis the property of the FBI and is.loahed to your agency; it and its contents_are not to be distributed outside your agency. ., i oiw?flgf RH 3491 ?16 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BUREAU OFINVESTIGATION In Reply, Please Refer to Me is Ten nessee FWe?h. . April 6, 1968 Title; SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Character: RACIAL MATTERS Reference; Memorandum prepared at Memphis; Tennessee, dated and captioned ee'ebove, All sources (except any listed below) whose identities are concealed in referenced communication have furnished reliable information in the past. This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and :?is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. NH 3491 Page FD menu-13-56Type in plain text or code) A IRTEL Date: 4/17/68(Priority or Method of Mailing) I - mom: - MEMPHIS (1574092) SAN ION WORKERS Sm 1m, MEMPHIS, SSEE RM (OO:_Memphis) Re Memphis airtel and LEM dated 4915/63. Enclosed herewith for the Bureau are 11 copies,: and for Atlanta and WFO 3 copies each of LHM dated. and captioned as above. -- amn?mz?? COpies are being furniSbed to U. S. Attorney and U. S.,Secret Service, Memphis, and to Regional Offices of Military Intelligence. I - :mm'w" Bureau (Enca.11) (RM) 3 Atlanta (Encs? 3 - WFO (Encs.3 Memphis (1 157-55i, Possible Racial Vlolence, Major Urban Areas) 157-166 - 157-1097, Washington Spring Project) 157?1190: Poor Peeple's CaMpaign) 157?1152, HAROLD A. MIDDLEBROOK) 157~938, HENRY LOGAN STARKS) 157=109? 157-1000, JAMES ELMORE PHILLIPS) me A 3.: A 153?1019, LES 157-1116, VERDELL 5 15751070, EDWINA JEANETTA HARRELL) 17oa7o Sub. ME 338uR(GheAte) a - a Mile) . . ?Approved ?3 Se?'t Per /0912 330 A. ent 1:171 Charge NH 34251 '.ge 2:15 . (D) ME 157:1092 Source one is ME 338mR-(Ghetto) So?rce two 15' . 5? Eastern Airlines, Memphis Source three isl {PrOSpective Information in LEM was furnished to Lt. E. H. ARKIN, Inapectional Bureau, Memphis Police Department, and to WILLIAM EBAY, 111th Military Intelligence, Third Army, Memghis, Tenn. LEADS: . ATLANTA AND WASHINGTON FIELD InfarmatiQHal copies being furnished in View of the. -interest of these offices in SCLC, Washington Spring Project, and Poor People's Campaign. MEMPHIS DIVISION AT TENN. Will follow and report pertinent developments. NH 3491 Page 206 In Reply, Please Refer to File NoUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Memphis, Tennessee April 17, 1955 Re: SAnrrArion worsens 511111, MEMPHIS, 510111 On April 15,1968,a first source advised that the sanitation strike in Memphis, Tennessee, which originally began February 12,1968, continued but that intensified negotiations between the city of Memphis and the Union representing the workers, namely the American Federation of StaEe, County and Municipal Enp1eyees Union, were in progress. This source stated that the group of Memnhis Negro ministers which has taken over the outside strike support, known as the Community on the More for Equa1ity (COME), had scheduled a mass rally for 8 p. Apri1 15,1968, at Mason Temple to feature Reverend Ralph D. the current President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), who recently succeeded the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was murdered in Memphis, Tennessee, by an unknown assailant on the evening of Apri1 4,1968. a A second source advised on April 15,1968, that Abernathy, along with his administrative aide, Bernard Lee, -and one J. Griffin (identified by source one as SCLC Business Manager), was scheduled to arrive.in Menphis at April 15, ?1968 from Atlanta, Georgia, and was scheduled to return to Atlanta at 8: 45 a n9, April 16,1968. Source one rurther advised that a group of Negro women supporting the strike picketed downtown Memphis stores on April 15,1968, and were partially supported by sd?s??t?t_1o__ns the striking sanitation workers in the term of an ecns411111, . boycott to try to induce Negroes from not shopping atwf?t*?m" oi the stores or any of their outlying bran Agkk?w an effort to bring pressure to hear on the city to se?*i5?? the sanitation strike and to upgrade end increase Neg@j,fz 7; employment in said stores. 11 - Bureau; Memphis; 1 Secret Service, Memphis; 1 111th MI1Memphis' - 111th MM Nashville; 1 - r1eston;l?) Memphis 5?7! 02 39?? E3 Memphis )(157_11 -109 WHL: (170?70 Sub) 11 11 A 1m 5491 (13% gWua ~Pagnrzu? - [Mm/1% ?21702 HH E491 SAN ITAT ION WORKERS. STRIKE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Source one added that a Mrs. Tarlese Matthews, who Operates a barber shop on Park Avenue, has been most active in the strike support but that the real "ramrod" of the COME group is Reverend James Morris Lawson, Jr., pastor of the Centenary Methodist Church, Memphis, Tennessee. Source one stated that Lawson wants to project and escalate the Negro protest movement in Memphis, even after the sanitation workers strike is ended. He wants to work with SCLC in its Operation Breadbasket program designed to force large food processors and distributors in Memphis to hire more Negroes and to upgrade Negro jobs under the threat of a massive cityswide Negro boycott of their products;., and some of the ether ministers in the COME group consider -Lawson to be representative of irresponsible leadership, although none of them have the ability or the persuasiveness to Openly challenge him. Source one stated that, for example, the National Association fer the-Advancement of Colored PeOple (NAACP) leadership in Memphis, which heretofore has been the main impetus of civil rights activity and protest on behalf of the Negro peeple, appears to be somewhat circumSpect of Lawson and of his close ties with the SCLC, and that for example on the morning of April 15,1968,Dr. Vasco A Smith, Jr., who is a Negro dentist in Memphis and who is Vice President of the NAACP and perhaps its most vocal spokesman, commented that any protest movement has to have order and organization and cannot successfully succeed over' any period of time on a continual emotional binge such as that being provided by Reverend James Morris Lawson, Jr. Smith told the source that it would appear that the COME group and its related Negro supporters, such as the NAACP and other Negro leaders in the community, would intensify their protest of police brutality in the Memphis area and would also probably support the American_Federation of-State, County and Municipal Employees Union in its efforts to organize several hundred City of Memphis Hospital employees and employees of the Memphis Housing Authority which operates several lowmeconomic income level housing projects. Page 203 NH 3491 SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE 0n the morning of April 16, 1968, source one advised that the mass rally originally scheduled for Mason Temple had been moved to the MetrOpolitan Baptist Church, Memphis, and was held as scheduled on the night of 7 April 15, 1968; that among the featured speakers were .Reverend Ralph Abernathy, President of SCLC, and James Bevel of Chicago, Illinois, a staff nether of SCLC, along with Reverend Ezekiel Bell, one of the COME group and who is pastor of the Parkway Gardens Presbyterian Church. In his speech Bell claimed that the Memphis police are harassing Pegroes in the Negro neighborhoods and complained that it seems unnecessary that Negroes should try to get legislation passed to give them equal rights when they should he considered equals because after all they are American citizens. Source one added that a'Memphis school teacher, Ia Mrs. Walter Evans, also Spoke; She?is considered one of .the ten best dreSSed women in Memphis, Tennessee, and she urged all Negro women in Memphis, including school teachers, to engage in mass picketing of downtown stores, and if necessary to throw themselves in front of sanitation trucks in an effort to step their movement in the city of Memphis. Source one stated that Reverend Bell echoed her statements and stated that if women were going to throw themselves in front of sanitation trucks that he, too, neuld be there-to help them. Source one stated that Reverend James Bevel gave a very militant Speech preceding Abernathy, emphasizing the complete black power concept and stating that the economic structure of capitalism in the United States is primarily responsible for keeping the Negroes in a semiuslavery status,and that the white power structure personified by big business in the United States is in effect engaged in a form of genocide against the Negroes. gal Page 209 NH 3491 SANITATION tonnes STRIKE MEMPHIS, waitresses Bevel mentioned the SCLC planned "Poor Peeple's March on Washington, D. Cof'also hnown as the ?Washington Spring Project," whereby SCLC will take thousands of Negroes from throughout the country ostensibly from poverty stricken areas to Washington, D. 0., where they will set" hp encampments on public grounds in an effort to ferce, Congress and the national-Administration to pass legislation and apprOpriate money to alleviate poverty on the part of Negroes in this country. Bevel called on the audience, approximately 2500 in number, to allow their children to cone into the SCLC movement for at least a year in order . that the children could go to washington and live in a "Poor People's VillageW that will be formed and maintained in Washington, D. 0., by the SCLC after the Washington Spring Project main impetus is ever. He did not elaborate. Source one advised that Bevel stated that any Negro should be glad to give up his child for one year in an effort to vindicate the recent murder or Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on April 4, 1968. About 9 Reverend Ralph D. Abernathy arrived accompanied by staff members, a Reverend (First Name Unknown) Steel Who is a minister from the state of Florida and a, (First Kane unknown) Holden, along with Bernard Lee, administra- tive assistant. Reverend Steel introduced Abernathy and it was apparent that Abernathy was much more openly militant in his Speech than he has been in the past, deepite the fact that he repeatedly called for "nonviolenee.? ?Source one further advised that Abernathy indicated that the tempo of the Memphis strike support would have to pich up and would resume April 18, 1968, when he would return to Memphis to personally lead it. He called for the physical blocking-of garbage truchs, for a series of night, marches, and_narches through the upperaclass white neighborhoods, ;,specirically the Chickasaw Gardens, an exclusive white housing area of Memphis; He stated, "When we return, you won't have to worry about those garbage trucks any moreo We are going to step those trucks iron running by putting our bodies in front of then." Abernathy also lashed out at sanitation workers who had returned to their jobs and said, want to - call on those Negro soabs who are driving those garbage trucks to leave the keys in the trnehs and refuse to work." :4 an Page 210 NH 3491 SANITATION mamas Stem, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Abernathy stated further, ?After the death of Martin Luther King, every black man in the United States ought to be ashamed to even go near a garbage truck-in Memphis, Tennessee." Source one advised-that Abernathy also called for a Stepwup of economic boycotts and stated, "We have decided if Mayor Loch (Henry Loeb) won?t complete old business, then there won't be any new business, so we ought to just close down the whole town.? He stated further that if these measures were not satisfactory that others would be taken, such as blocking traffic on major streets.? He concluded, however, "We are committed to nonviolence . and will never become violent: They may inflict violence upon us but never will we retaliate with the same means. We're going to remain nonviolent throughout, but we're going to inject, if necessary, some-of the most militant nonviolent steps we've ever taken." Source one advised that Abernathy made reference to the recent death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., saying, ?I'm concerned over the death of Martin Luther King, but I?m more worried about what killed him rather than who fired the trigger. The.attitudes of racism gave the climate for his death,-but killing Dr. King did not destroy the civil rights movement; it gave it new life.? Abernathy said that the passage of the open housing bill by Congress recently would not have much effect on the Negro community because ?We have seen several civil rights measures passed during. ?this century but none of then have been adequately enforced at local levels," The information furnished above by source one was corroborated in detail by source muse who was present-at-i the_neeting, and by Lieutenant E. ?berhin, who on April 16, 1968, advised that a reliable source of the Menphis Police VDepartnent had been present at the nesting and had corroborated the above statements made.by the speakers enumerated above. Page 211 NH 3491 SANITATION mamas STRIKE, MEMPHIS, Source one, as well as the source of Lieutenant E. H. Arkin, Inapectional Bureau, Memphis Police Department,-both stated that James Bevel in discussing the Poor People's March on Washington to begin later in April or even early May, 1968, was heard to tell Reverend harold Middlebrook, of the COME grasp and a former aorher fer SCLC, that he aculd like ts see the Poor Peeple' March originate in Memphis where Dr. King was killed, and that he heped that people could begin to assemble some time during the middle of may and that a lot of peOple could be flown into Memphis from other parts of the country to begin the march here. The above sources Stated that there were no Specifics and that this appeared to he more conjecture on the part of Bevel. .Sources one and'dueeadvised that another mass meeting is scheduled for April 16, 1968, at 7:30 p. at the Golden Leaf Baptist Church located at HOllywood and Chelsea. Source one stated that after the meeting at the church terminated that some of the COME group and the SCLC staff went to the Lorraine Motel where much was made of the fact that Reverend Ralph Abernathy was going to stay in Room 306 of that motel, the room in which Dr. King was staying when he was shot on the highs of April 4,1968. It was learned that some of the local black power pe0ple, including James Elmore Phillips, LeMoyne College student, checked in the Lorraine Motel at the same time, with Phillips believed to be staying in Room 310. Present with Phillips were Black Organizing Project (BOP) followers Charles Harrington, Charles Ballard, and Verdell Brooks Source one also advised that it was learned that another BOP leader, Edwina Jeanette Harrell, Memphis State University (MSU) student, has been doing a lot-of norh at the Minimum Salary Office which is the COME_headquarters, working with Cornelia Crenshaw, former manager of one of the Memphis Housing Authority projects who has been most active in the OBME support movement. ?Page 212 NH 3491? SAN ION WORKERS Strum, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Source one pointed out that other BOP followers, Donnie Delaney and Richard and Van Cabbage, younger brothers of BOP leader Charles Cabbage, have also been hanging around the Minimum_$alary Office and as recently as April 15, 1968, they were overheard to be making statements to the effect that the Negroes in Memphis had everything to gain and nothing to lose by attempting to destroy Memphis because Memphis was not werth saving. Source one pointed out that no Specifics were mentioned and that these young men were probably "letting off steam. Later on the night of April 15, 1968, according to source one, James Phillips, Harrington, Ballard and Brooks were deeperately trying to see Ralph Abernathy but Bernard ?Lee, his administrative assistant, stated that he and Abernathy had just about lost patience with the BOP group and he would not allow them to see Abernathy.- Source one advised that Abernathy stated that he and his staff would return to. Memphis on Thursday, April 18, 1968, to continue to work in an effort to unify the Negro movement in Memphis, Tennessee, and that Reverend Harold Middlebrook stated that he plans to go to work full time for SCLC beginning May 1,1968, and indicated that he will work out of the Atlanta, Georgia, headquarters of the SCLC. Source one also added that Reverend Henry Legan Starks, pastor of St, James AME Church and one of the COME leaders, has recently made a preposal that a memorial chapter of SCLC be set up in Memphis in memory of Martin Luther King, and that it is quite possible that SCLC will now move into Memphis on a permanent basis. Page 213 NH 3491 SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Information developed from sources one, two and three was furnished to the InsPectional Bureau, Memphis, Tennessee, Police Department, and to a representative of the 111th Military IntelLigence Corps, Third Army, Memphis, Tennessee. This document co_ntains neither recommendationS nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the preperty of the FBI and lie .1oaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. Page 214 HH B491 . . . . . 1.. ?1 I . I UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Inlhp53IWMuaqurw_ MemPhis, Tennessee F?ehh April 17, 1968 Title: SANITATION WORKERS STRIKE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE I - Character ?50m Reference: Memorandum prepared at Memphis, Tennessee, dated and captioned as above. All sources (except any listed below) whose identities are concealed in referenced communication have furnished reliable internation in the past. This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions or the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to .your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed Outside your agency. Page 215 3-1? v3- . .- .. ?r z-La-abr (FBI Date: 4/29/63 Transmit the following in (Type in plain text or code) . v- AIRTEL 10 (Priority or Method of Mailing) 7M2 T02 I DIRECTOR, FBI (15%8423) t? . I FROM: SAC, MEMPHIS (1574,1490) (P) . - Y: ACOI, w: 05 . POOR pnoan's CAMPA IGN. 159, 0RD, RAD 33"? ?5 RACIAL MATTERS A . DATE (00: Washington Field) new FORWA l?;;32?149?;7ee7? Aerial: *5 9 Re Memphis airtel to Bureau 4/25/68. Enclosed herewith for the Bureau are 11 cepies, for Atlanta and WFO 3 cepiesp and for other listed offices 2 capies of a LHM dated 4/29/68 and captioned as above, $0 Copies of enclosed LHM are being furnished to U, S. Attorneys at Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee; to U. Secret Service at Memphis; to 111th MI Group, Third Q?j? Army, at Memphis and Nasheille; to N180, Charleston, N. and Mennphis; to 08.1, 8th . "ct, Maxwell AFB, A1a,; QEKI to 081, 9th District, Ba FAA. AFB, Leg; and to 6:2 g{ Third Army, Ft, a Bureau ?j?ir?ngATmi a Atlanta . Birmin ham I /5 7 ?175,223" 0?45? Charlotte . . . l? 5.32 ,s'n?wbem a it?, Chicago (157:2474) . ?e?fgplumbia 16 MAY 1 1953 5? 317713 a 11 1e (157::532) (Enos 2) (RM) .2 123/ ?Mil?agkee we A QM, B39 Mammals; 2. 2-22.; 1517221190 ADDITIONAL MEMPHI HSL :i :gmh ?9 I I I. I . (38SEEM it, 5 I I .- In?? I Ev. 2'1; ?t I Approved: )2 Sent ?Ezhm i Iiilyiir mg Spec1 Agent in Charge 6,3463%; zii?ghga?g I A EMMAMQSA .1 85Page 1 ., ME 157E1190 MEMPHIS (1 157u556, Possible Racial Violence, Major Urban Areas) (1 157m1097, Washington Syring Project) (l 157m166, SCLC) (l 157n1022, Black Nationalist Movement), (1 157e1168, Racial Situation? Memphis Division) (1 170m70 Sub, ME 338?R(Ghotto) (1 66m1687 Sub A, Dissemination) Confidential source utilized in enclosed LHM is ME EEAD MEMPHIS DIVISION AT MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Will maintain contact with 10gica1 sources and furnish all information obtained to the Bureau re the Poor People's Campaign. .925. NH 3491 Page 2 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OFINVESTIGATION Memphis, Tennessee sens April 29,1968 Re; POOR CAMPAIGN RACIAL MATTERS The late Es, Martin Luther King, Jr,, President, Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), publicly Efnounced prior to his death that he would conduct a massive cgtiibdisohedience campaign in the nation's capital in the 8 ?ing of 1968 in an effort to pressure Congress into passing.~egisiation favorable to the Negro, On April 25,1968,a {d?aqw?h advised that on\ he evening of April 24,1968,a poor' -ii;lg?i? People' Campaign strategy meeting was held at the Lonr r?ine Motel Memphis, Te e, which was attended by Jame Jo Te?phnson, and otherbmemhers of the SCLC staff, albng with several members of the Memphis organization known as gtg?y/ jgpommunity on the Move for Egualitg (CQME), which is Sponsored by the Memphis Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance It was decided at this strategy meeting that COME would support the Poor Peeple's Campaign and the march on Washington, and a goal was set for COME to secure 1,000 . people from Memphis, Tennessee, to take part in this march, COME agreed to sponsor a youth group to go to Washington, to help in building "shanty town James Elmer hillips, a selfnadmitted member of the governing board of a black power group at Memphis Tennessee, known as Black Organizing Project (BOP), agreed to lead this youth delegation to Washington, D, Cg This source further advised that Reverend James Bevel and Johnson, SCLC field representatives, are currently working in the Memphis area in connection with the Poor People's Campaign and that at this strategy meeting Bevel requested the ministers in attendance to make arrange- ments to charter buses to transport their individual church members to Washington, Dc to take part in this Poor PeOple's guests Mme? 769461 :ngn. A-llh Nah {jigging/May ENCLOSURE NH 3491 59151039 Page 3 NH 3491 POOR CAMPAIGN On April 26,1968,Mr Henry Toombs, Charter and Tour Meheger, Greyheuhd Bee Lines, and Mr John Stewert Charter and Tour Meheger, Trailways Bus Lines, hoth Memphie, edeieed that they were eenteeted eh April 25, 1968, by one J. T, Johnson who represented hiheeli te them he field representative ei SOLE Mr, Johheeh edvieed thet he eehld like to charter 25 Greyhound ehd EST Teeileeye for May 2, 1968. Mr. Johnson wee intereeted ih chartering these buses on weekly heeie. he hede he firm eemmitmehte and advised hr, Toomhe end Mr, thet eheh he hed determined the exact number ef heeded hy SCLC fer the Poor People's March eh Weehihgteh, D, 0., he would contact them, . On April 29, 1968, heth Mr, Teembe end Mr, Stewart advised thet he of this date J, T. Johnson has not chartered ehy from either Greyhound Bee Lines or Traileeye Bus Lines, Mr, Toomhe eteted that the maximum number of Greyheehd Bee Lihee hee available for charter on May 2, l968, ie l0 Mr John Stewart edvieed thet the maximum number ef Treilweye Bus Lihee hee eveilehle tee eherter eh hey 2,1968, ie 5 On April 26, 1968, the ehevemehtiohed source advised that a etretegy meeting ef the Peer Peop1e?e Campaign wee held at Mount Olive Church, Memphie, the evening ef April 25,1968,ettehded by approximately 500 people, of which 75 per cent were yehthe of high school age Thie meeting was presided ever by iehee Bevel and deve10ped ihte ?sermon? en the pert ef Jemee Bevel in which Bevel traced the history of the lete Dr Mertih Luther King, Jr attacked the everaell Amerieeh eyeteh regardihgt the distribution of health, and the leak ef opperthhitiee for Negroes. Bevel stated that centihgeht of merchere will leave Memphis, eh Mey 2,1988,ehd trevel to Washington, C., to in building ?ehehty teen,? At thie etretegy meeting the following handbill wee distributed: hem Page 4 . 111.LFHL J..{21.1. H. . ..TL. . . . A, . ?1Hull.rlLandp.15 30Jr.Nhn u. FUEL..NH 3491 POOR CAMPAIGN Tne sonree stated tnet.nevel urged all youths to stay out of seneoi end to teke pert in this march on Washington.V it this meeting eppiieetions were passed out which were te be filled in by ell who wanted to make the trip to Washington, D, C, innording to this application, the individual filling nut this application committed himself to go and promised tn solicit one to ten other people to go with him, in addition, individuals filling out these applications were requested to secure one to ten peoyle to support their trip to Washington financially. Souroeesvised Bevel stated that Ralph D, Abernathy, President, SCLC, nill retnrn to Memphis, Tennessee, the evening oraney 1, 1968, end will conduct a massive support rally for the Poor Peoplees Cempeign st Meson Temple, Memphis, Tennessee, Bevel urged ell in?ettensenee at the meeting to turn out for this messive support rally and to bring as many ethers to this rniiy es possible, Source stated that errengenents have been made to conduct workshops at Cleynorn Temple, Memphis, Tennessee, every afternoon until May 1, 1968, to train young peOple how to march, non to take oere of themselves, how to edemonstrete and how to live in Washington, D, C, Source edvised Bevel steted tnet Reverend Ralph D, Abernetny nili piece ster set in concrete outside of Room 306 of tne Lerreine Motel in Memphis in memory of Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr., on the morning of Mey 2, 1968, Immediately following the laying of this memnrinl ster, Abernathy will lend a mess nereh out of Memphis, Tennessee, in the direction of Marks, Mississippi, Sonree advised that according to Bevel second contingent or demonstrators will trnvel by bus from Memphis, Tennessee, ieeving Memphis Friday, May 3, 1968, traveling to Marks,'nississippi, snere major demonstration in support of the Poor People?s Campeign will be.held. This cerersn will main stops at Jeekson, Mississippi, and will return to Memphis, Tennessee, on neg 8, 1968, for a massive demonstretion; will trenel to Nesnviile, Tennessee, on Mny 9, 1968, for another massive demonstration, continuing to Knoxville, Tennessee, on May in, 1968, and to Denville, Virginia, on May 11, 1968, where massive demonstrations will be held at both cities snpporting the Poor People's Campaign, From Denviile, Virginie, the onrnven will proceed to Washington, D, C, ?is Page 6 3003 CAMPA mu The source stated that according to Bevel, this contingent'of demonstratorg will be camposed of pample who are to begin construetion of ?Shanty town" in Washington, De Cg, to housg from all over the country who plan t0 come t? Waghington, DQ C6 The attached pages Sg? farth more detailed data relative to this Poor Peeple?3 Campaigne m5? NH 3491 Page POOR CAMPAIGN Reporting Office: Memphis ?Nsmes of Individuals Recruiting in your District: ngm?d/ Charles ebbage Hosea.L? liliams Reve?end James a Bavels Reverend Rm Au ampson {First Name Unknown) Bolden (First Name Unknown) Marzette J5 Te Johnson Reverend Har0;d AG -1ddlebfqg?m, Address of Headquarters; Clayborn Temple, Hernando Street Memphisg Tennessee Known Number of Individuals Recruited to Date: UnknoWn Known Names of Individuals Recruited: Unknown Estimated Number of Individuals Recruited; 100 Number of Buses and other Commercial type Transportation Chartered and Total Capacity. Unknown -Number of PriVate Cars to?Participate; Unknown Identity of Driver; make, model and license numbers of cars to participate; No knowledge NH 3491 Page 3 NH 3491 PQOR CAMPAIGN AA TMA will Marks, MiSSiSSiypi, And will AMAMAA AOAAM Carolina, and Virginia? AA The Ail] At}? AA Motel, Memphis, TAMMASAQA9 will A9 S6 MighWAy 51 to HernAndag AA stay; will proceed AA C9m?9 Mississippi; AMAA AA Sardis, Mississippi? AA Mississippi, they A111 AA HighWAy 6 to Oxford AA AVArmnight Stay. The will Oxford, following MingAy 21 AA MAAMA, From MATKSQ they plAA AA to Clarksdale, And AA AA Mississippi, leaving zAipgi, east toward Aha and AA upon arrival upon Arrival: M0 am?? Dunld:591?1039_ Page 9 POOR CAMPAIGN Thig dooumont containg neither recommendations nor conclusions of tho FREQ It is th@ proporty of the FBI and is loaned to your agomoy; it and its contents are not to be distributed outsido your agonoy, ?28533 a: NH 3491 Page UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION a ?knm Tennessee April 293 1968 Titi@: POOR CAMPAIGN Charact?rg RACIAL MATTERS Reforonoe: Memorandum prepared at Momphis, Tennessee, dated and captioned as above, All SOUTCSS (exoopt any listed below) whose identities are concealod in referenced communication have furnished roliablo information in the past, Thig dooumont contains noithor nor conclusions of the FBIG It is tho property of the FBI and is loaned to your agoncy; it and its contonts org not to be distributed outsidQ?your agoncy; 3491 Page 11 RH Page 1 . RH 3491 D?nId:59163150 Page 2_ RH 3491 Dunidl?gl??l?? Page 3 1m 3491 I helm-59153151] page_.4' WM i 'DucId:591631?u Page 5- 1m. 3491 DucId: 59163161] 'Page 6 ?36 RH 3491 Page RH 3491- DucId:5916315? Page 3 NH 3491 Page 9 35911 "[6153 RH 3491 DucId: 59163160 'Page 11 RH 3491 ;D?cIdE591631?u _PagE 12 RH 3491- DucId:591531?u Page 13 NH 3491 DucId 59163160 Page 14 ?Vng; {AW-xv. HM Q?kw 7a k? 53A NH 3491 Page 15 RH 3491 DucId:591631?u Page 15- HH.3491- undid-591531511 Fagg'i'? RH 3491 Du?Id:59163160 Page 13 nucId:5916316n Page-15. RH gPagE 20 RH 3491 DucI?:59163160 Rage 21' RH 3491- DucIdi591631?u Page 22' Fifi B451 .- Page 23 . RH 3491 .Dqu?;591631?u Page 24 RH 3491 Page 25 'Page'E?' :59163160 DucId a. RH 3491 DucId:59163150 Page 2? RH 3491 DncId;591631?u 'Page 23 EN 4?9 a ?e g: HH73491- DucI?:5916316?' Page 29_ RH 3491 'DucId:591631?u? Page 30'