Minneapolis spokesman., 1963-09-05
Magnificent DoY Is
Reporters Description
Of MoFch In DC.
BY Jesse Bell


BY Jesse Bell
Wednesday, August %, 1868,
was truly a magnificent day. It
was the day that over 200, 900
Americans Of all colors marched
upon Washington to demonstrate
TO the Nation and the world that
the time is now. The cry was
Freedom Now!
Minnesotans were proud and
happy to be a part of this fantas-
tic, huge, orderly procession.
Early Wednesday morning SO folks
from the Gopher state boarded an
American Airlines charted plane
and flew to Washington.
Our flight was pleasant, the two
stewardesses doing everything
they could to make our trip COM
Portable. They even expressed a
desire to join us in the march,
however both had to return i'm
mediately to Chicago their home
base. We touched down in Wash
ington at exactly 7:30 am. after
a three and one half hour flight.
We were greeted in Washing
ton by some old MinnesOtans,
now working In Washington,
John Thomas, Richard (Dick)
Fox, Tony Granger, and also
congressional representatives of
both parties.
After a brief press conference
at the airport we proceeded I'm
two charter buses to the First
Congregational Church in Down
town Washington.
Republican state chairman Rob-
ert F'orsythe and Rnoda Lund, Re-
publican National Committeewom-
an were ON hand to greet the
marchers at the airport and also
went to the church.
A coffee hour was prepared at
the church, and at 10 am. Sam
Richardson presided over a press
conference with Senators Hubert
Humphry, Eugene Mccarthy, also
Congressman Don Fraser and Joe
Karth. All four Of the Minnesota
congressional representatives are
1908 behind the Presidents Civil
Rights Bill The press conference
terminated at IL am. The group
quickly ate lunch and moved to
the business ait hand the March
on Washington.
The Minnesota delegation moved
from the church 10 the staging
area Here we Joined the most ex-
uberant and stimulating throng
imaginable. Groups from Della
ware, New Jersey, Wisconsin, New
York, all were In good spirits and
parading for the same cause Free
dom for all".
The March was 80 massive lt
took US nearly 45 minutes to
walk ono eighth Of q mile. Along
the way folks would cheer the
Minnesota group and ask "what
city In Minnesota?
I was overwhelmed when heard
an old nickname shouted from the
sidewalk, looking up found It was
my uncle, James Hampton from
Pittsburgh. He had known I was
going to the march and made up
his mind he would march with the
Minnesota group. How he picked
one person out Of 200, 900 b beyond
me.
Greeting ten former friends
from Pittsburgh was an unex-
pected and heartfelt surprise.
Our march out Of necessity ter
minated at the corner Of Consti-
tuition Avenue we just could
go no farther. The rest Of our day
was spent at this point Here we
heard some of the most inspira-
tional messages Of a lifetime. Our
hearts and souls were overflowing
with emotion and devotion 10 this
cause. nt was truly an mforget-
table day.
After the massive assembly the
Minnesota group moved to a loca-
ton where we were 10 meet two
buses to return US to Washington's
National Airport. We boarded our
charter flight at seven pm. and
touched down at AlnneapoAis-St.