The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1961-01-06
Stand ForFreedom
Urged In Pilgrimage Talks
Negroes Told To
Remember The
Power Of Ballot

Negroes from across the state
assembled in Farmville' Monday
afternoon to be told they don't
get very far with a traditional
protest, but that the protest must
be followed through with mass
nonviolent direct action. Police
abserved that many of the crowd
were from outside the county.
Here to protest the closing OF
public schools in Prince Edward.
the Negroes heard DR.. Milton A.
Reid say in statement OF pur-
pose the following
The mass action needed most
in Virginia is the power Of the
ballot. 1t the Negro can determine
the election of one, John Fitz-
gerald Kennedy to the presidency
of the nation, the same vote,
can determine the "Byrds' IN
Washington. the "Almonds' in
Richmond, the ''Vaughans', the
"Dillons''. the "Picketts', the
jenkins, the Gates, and the
"Stecks' of Prince Edward coun-
ty.'
Third Pilgrimage
The occasion was a pilgrimage
for free public school education,
sponsored by the Virginia Christ
ian Leadership Conference and
the Prince Edward Christian AS
ISOLATION. DR.. Reid, president Of
the conference. placed the meet
ing at the First Baptist Church
on the same level as two free
dom pilgrimages held in front
of the state capital by terming
it a third annual pilgrimage.
The Negro minister stated that
the conference has pledged its
umrelenting support to the re-
opening Of schools in the county
under state or federal control.
He noted that steps in this di-
rectlon had been taken, but he
nor any of a dozen additional
speakers were specific on steps
taken or planned.
Key speaker at the program
attended by an estimated 600
persons was Dr.. Ralph Aber-
nathy, president of the Montgo-
merry. Ala, Improvement AS
ISOLATION. He sounded out a
voting theme similar to that
suggested by Dr.. Reid.
Let Kennedy Know
The Montgomery i%ntegration
leader said, I'VE must let Mr..
Kennedy know we want more out
of him than we got out of Presi-
dent Eisenhower. We must let
him know we are not going to
be satisfied with a few appoint
ments . . that We are not
going to be fooled because be
came to the rescue and got DR..
Martin Luther King out of jail.
There are 10 million more black
people who want to break their
shackleS."
Taking to an aggressive stand
in his discourse on freedom. DR..
Alternately said, .. we want
freedom and We want it right
now : not in the next century o.
next decade; not next year; not
even reXt month, but now"
I'VE have borne a yoke of
injustice under a theory of sep
arate but equal "for almost 100
years. Dr.. Alternately declared.
ITO build democracy we must
first established that we want
TO- be free for no Negro now OF
ever has been satisfied with
segregation he declared.
Hit The Pocketbook
The key speaker suggested that
a program of mo cooperation
with the evil system of segrega-
ton be launched. DR.. Aber-
rathy said. we must stop buy
ing segregation. Cut out sales
when you + greeted by Uncle
Tom. Let us hit this system
where it hurts the most the
pockctbook.."
Freedom greetings Werc
brought by ten speakers prior TO
Dr.. ~Abernathy'S talk. The r. G.
Williams. president OF the Baptist
General Association. launched the
militant theme followed by a
number of others on the plat
form. He said. segregation is
dead. but Prince Edward county
is Still holding out. 1t appears
to be a graveyard of democracy"
Ono of three White speakers on
the program, Mrs. Sarah P.
Boylcs. said, Il think it is a ter
riblc thing to be afraid to say
fCorxoJ ~ ~o~N