Klansmen Kill Voting Rights Activist Vernon Dahmer

Jan. 10, 1966, the Klan wanted to shut Vernon Dahmer up and stop his voting registration drives, they did but brought the full power of the Department of Justice down on them.

In the early morning hours of Jan. 10th, the home and grocery of Mr. Dahmer were firebombed by the Klan as retribution for his years of work in civil rights and fighting to get people registered to vote and to the polls.

Although he could have passed for white and moved from Mississippi Dahmer was very aware of his place and the racial discrimination and early in his life decided he was going to overcome it. So, he worked hard and built himself up eventually owning not just his store but a sawmill and a 200-acre farm.

He had earned respect because of his labor and the fact he provided jobs in the community and was very active in the community not just in Civil Rights. However, Dahmer never lost sight of the struggle most Black Americans faced. He was elected president of the local NAACP and urged his friends and neighbors to vote.

Vernon Dahmer knew Sam Bowers, the Ku Klux Klan leader in the area, and was aware that because of his position and registration activism, it was probable Bowers had ordered his murder.

What Bowers was unprepared for was the reaction to the heinous act. President Lyndon Johnson called the murder, “a grievous tragedy,” and ordered his Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach to make the full resources of the Department of Justice available to Forest County and Mississippi State officials. Mississippi governor Paul Johnson expressed dismay at such an open murder in his hometown and said, “We will do everything in our power to find these vicious and morally bankrupt criminals and make them pay.”

Often times this was rhetoric but Paul Johnson had learned from the previous case of the Mississippi Civil Rights Workers' Murders and praised the Voting Rights Act. He understood Mississippi’s reputation was damaging the economy of his state.

Also, White officials and community leaders were genuinely outraged. The Hattiesburg City Council set up a relief fund for the family, and a white-owned bank made the first donation. Whites and blacks alike donated furniture, clothes, and materials to rebuild the Dahmer home. Local officials pledged their full resources to solve the crime. 

All this focus led to 14 Klansmen being arrested for arson and murder, One pleaded guilty to arson, and three more were convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Bowers and another Klansman were freed by hung juries, however.

In August 1991, the case was reopened, and in 1998, Bowers was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, where he died in 2006 at the age of 82. He had previously served six years in federal prison on civil rights violations in connection with the murders of three civil rights workers in Neshoba County in 1964.

 Sources:

https://www.splcenter.org/vernon-dahmer

https://www.civilrightsteaching.org/voting-rights/vernon-dahmer-civil-rights

https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2016/01/02/vernon-dahmer-day-honors-civil-rights-martyr/78039742/

1854: Jailed For Teaching Free Black Children

 

Jan. 10, 1854, Judge Richard H. Baker wanted to make an example of Mrs. Margret Douglas for having the audacity to teach free Black children to read, so he gave her a month in jail, which he considered lenient because she was a woman.

Douglas had been arrested in May of 1953 for the depraved educational crime when two Norfolk policemen entered her classroom. They took her and her daughter and the 25 children to the mayor's office where she was told her teaching was illegal, she argued then that she was only doing what the church was doing. The mayor released everyone, and Douglas thought the incident was over. She sent her daughter to visit family in New York for the summer. Then in June the city of Norfolk sent Douglas a summons to appear in court for her crime.

In November she reported to the court and functioned as her own attorney. Her defense was mostly based on the fact the Christ Church was teaching the same lessons she was. While this was entirely true the jury did not think much of it and the jury found Douglas guilty and their recommendation was a fine of $1. The judge postponed sentencing until January.

At the sentencing, Judge Richard Baker went over Douglas’s defense and stated he found it all improper and stated that the church was only teaching the necessary moral teachings and that helping free Blacks become literate was a danger to everyone in the community. In his sentencing, Baker defended slavery as part of the natural order and railed against “Northern radicals” for their interference in Southern life. He then told Douglass how he was tempted to give her the full sentence of a $100 fine and six months in jail but because she was a woman he had determined one month was enough to show the public not to violate the laws of Virginia.

The newspapers of the time were not kind to Douglass. They described her as a “dangerous white woman” and an “intrepid female.” The Norfolk Argus bid her good riddance by writing, “Let her depart hence with only one wish, that her presence will never be intruded upon us again.”

Upon release, Douglass moved to Philadelphia with her daughter and wrote a book on her experience and defending her actions. In her memoir of the experience, Douglass mentioned how she believed Caucasians were superior to Blacks. In court, she had admitted to previously owning a slave and would not commit to never doing so again. However bold Mrs. Douglass was her case is primarily representative of the White Supremacist Culture of the antebellum south even in the cities 

Sources:

https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1028&context=ljh

Oregon Executes On Innocent Man Rather Than A Marine In 1945

 

Jan. 5, 1945, “I am innocent. It’s easier to convict a Negro than a white person. So long everybody,” these were the last words of Robert E. Lee Folkes. Oregon executed Folkes for the murder of Martha James, a white woman.

The murder happened on a train

On Saturday, January 23, 1943, Train No. 15 left Portland's Union Station heading to Los Angeles. Folkes was a cook, also aboard was 21-year-old Martha James from Norfolk, Virginia, who was following her husband, ENS Richard James—who had departed earlier in the day on a train for troops. Also on the train was a marine, Harold Wilson.

At 4:30 a.m. James’ screams awakened the other passengers in the sleeping cars. They heard her scream, "My God, he's killing me!" Passengers found the marine Wilson next to the body covered in blood, but he said he had heard Mrs. James scream, then found her with her throat cut, but saw a man running away so he gave chase. Wilson claimed that a “dark” man had fled the scene moments before, Wilson said he gave chase toward the rear of the train, running past the kitchen where Folkes worked. 

Between Eugene and Klamath Falls, Oregon detectives questioned passengers and crew but found no murder weapon and no physical evidence. There was no suggestion that Folkes or any Black man was a suspect. Other passengers claimed to have seen Wilson repeatedly climbing in and out of his bunk, directly above the victim's, behaving suspiciously before and after the murder. 

However, it seems that the marine’s claims to have seen a “dark” man outweighed these statements and even the blood on his own hands and clothes. In fact, Wilson's description of the events and suspect changed in his statements to the police several times. More pertinent to this case was the fact the Navy released Wilson from the brig for an alleged sexual assault the day before. His commanding officer found him to be an ongoing problem and was sending him to a combat unit, as happened often during the war.

So why Folkes?

Well, he was in fact considered a bit of a problem for the Southern Pacific Railroad. He was an active and vocal member of the Joint Council of Dining Car Employees, and his family were close friends with the union president William Pollard. During the 1942 labor negotiations, Southern Pacific security surveilled and intimidated workers including Folkes. Labor unions were considered an enemy by a lot of people during the war for threatening slowdowns, especially Black unions. On the night of the murder of Martha James Southern Pacific detectives stripped Folkes naked, shoved him into a men’s lavatory, and browbeat him all night, releasing him only for duty shifts. He was sleep deprived and disoriented when Los Angeles police detectives grabbed him off the train in Los Angeles and shuttled him between Central Jail and Police Headquarters for another twelve hours of interrogation, with no lawyers present.

When his mother and common-law wife and sister arrived at the central jail to see Folkes, they reported to his lawyer that there was bruising around his eyes and face and his speech slurred. Regardless LAPD telephoned Linn County District Attorney Harlow Weinrick, claiming that Folkes had “cracked.” For the railroad, this was an implied threat to other “Uppity Negro Unionizers,” which would help keep others in line. Also, the war department in 1942 needed someone besides their own marine to be the center of this case, the murder of a war bride by another soldier would have been bad press indeed.

California extradited Folkes to Oregon, where he was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death—all within three months. At trial, Weinrich introduced the so-called confessions. Folkes had denied his guilt in all statements that he acknowledged having made on the train ride south to Los Angeles and in one statement he supposedly made in LAPD custody. But in a second statement in Los Angeles, police said, he had “confessed,” although he was never given the opportunity to review that statement and never acknowledged having made it.

On appeal, the Oregon Supreme Court returned a five-to-two decision upholding the death sentence. The two dissenting justices questioned the integrity of interrogating officers; and Justice George Rossman, an expert on criminal procedure, argued that the “statements” contradicted sworn testimony from officers involved and should not have been allowed into evidence.

The Portland NAACP campaigned for Oregon Governor Earl Snell extend clemency to Folkes. They had organized both Black and White churches and the unions to help in this campaign; but Snell was under pressure from the War Department, police, and the governor of Virginia, who was in the same lodge as the victim’s father. In the end, Snell refused and stated, “I see evidence that convinces me beyond doubt of Robert E. Lee Folkes's guilt.”

On January 5, 1945, Folkes became the second Black man executed by the State of Oregon.

Sources:

https://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/misplaced-guilt/article_35bff050-4f48-5aad-86bd-7b15ea0485e2.html

https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/conviction-of-robert-folkes/#.Y7ofJ3bMK3D

https://www.oregonlive.com/history/2021/08/oregons-murdered-war-bride-case-riveted-nation-in-1943-dubious-investigation-led-to-black-cooks-execution.html

https://offbeatoregon.com/1607b.war-bride-murder-3.399.html

https://www.newspapers.com/image/185511319/?terms=%22Robert%20E.%20Folkes%22

Rosewood Florida: The Town That Was, Then Wasn't

 

Jan. 5, 1923, Rosewood, Florida was destroyed on this day based on the accusation of a white woman that a Black man had assaulted her. The small town was home to about 20 Black families before a mob of White men decided they were shielding a criminal.

Rosewood was in central Florida not far from the city of Gainesville where there had been a KKK rally on New Year’s. There also had been accusations that the people of Rosewood had somehow been involved in the murder of a White school teacher from the town of Perry. After the woman, Fannie Taylor reported that she had been raped a group of 30 White men took off for Rosewood looking for Jesse Hunter who Sheriff Elias Ramsay had pinpointed as a prime suspect because he was an escapee of a regional chain gang, Taylor had not identified as her rapist. First, the mob found a local man named Sam Carter who was believed to be an associate of Hunter, when he would not lead them to Hunter, they shot him to death. The mob then focused on the home of Sylvester Carrier because they had already arrested Aaron Carrier. Riding up to the home they shot the family dog and when the elderly Sarah came out to see who was shooting, they killed her, a gunfight ensued and two White men in the mob were killed. The mob retreated and returned the next morning with 200 members who set about burning the settlement to the ground starting with the Carrier home, Sylvester Carrier and others in the home had escaped into the swamp overnight.

As the larger mob began moving into the town the general store owner sheltered some Blacks in the back of his store while most residents fled into the swamp. As they tried to run away many Blacks were shot and left where they fell or were dumped into the burning buildings. The local train operators, John and William Bryce, also assisted in the evacuation stopping when they could to help survivors escape to Gainesville. Although the governor was contacted about the violence local law enforcement assured him they had the situation under control. As it was by the 7th because all residents were dead or fled the area. At the end of the violence, only Wright’s general store and one home remained standing.

On February 17th a grand jury came to no conclusions and reject any indictments, prosecutor George Decottes stated that witnesses had not presented a strong enough case.

While the local and national newspapers reported on the incident most underplayed it as the normal day-to-day business of the Jim Crow south. Formal reports were of only 6 blacks killed and two Whites.

Many focused their stories on reports of, “Armed negroes barricaded in houses or patrolling the outskirts” in an apparent attempt to validate the violence. The story of the violence quickly disappeared with the only mention as the year went on for pianos made of rosewood. Survivors didn’t share their stories even with family.

In 1982 St, Petersburg Times reporter Gary Moore did a series of articles based on the old stories but with Black survivors who were more forthcoming. This in turn led to deeper historical research and a reparations bill to pass the Florida legislature providing $150,000 to the nine known survivors.

Photos: University of Florida Archives

Sources:

https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/rosewood-massacre-1923/

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/03/rosewood-florida-massacre-racial-violence-reparations

https://www.newspapers.com/image/8338810/?terms=Rosewood&match=9

https://www.newspapers.com/image/612443065/?terms=%22Sam%20Carter%22&match=1

Battle To Desegregate Montgomery Airport

 

Jan.4, 1962, The city of Montgomery, Alabama decided to go to great lengths to make sure White travelers and Black Travelers would not intersect after a federal judge’s order to desegregate the city’s municipal airport Dannelly Field.

U.S. District Court Judge Frank M. Johnston issued an order that prohibited the city commissioners and airport restaurant operators from barring anyone of any race from using any airport facilities. Johnston also ordered all the signs declaring race-specific facilities, “Negro Fountain” or “White Restroom,” to be taken down.

In response, city attorney Calvin Whitesell said that obviously, they would appeal to the Appellate Court because segregation was the best option. Also, he ordered all the chairs in waiting rooms would be removed, restrooms locked, and water fountains shut off. He added that the restaurant would be closed rather than desegregated.

While this appealed to the strong segregationist segment of the city the airport had military contracts and the businessmen of Montgomery were already dealing with some ongoing sit-ins so the chamber told Whitehall and the city commissioners that they would not back the move to shut down the airport’s facilities and seating area. Also, the Chamber had led the financing of the two-year-old terminal and felt ownership over the airport

Sources: 

https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/desegregation-airports-american-south

https://casetext.com/case/united-states-v-city-of-montgomery

Christmas Assault Leads To New Year Lynching

Jan.3, 1901 Louis McAdams was witnessed having an argument with White storekeeper J.M. Ray and pulled a knife on the man and slit his neck in front of the store in Wilsonville, Alabama. This act incensed the White people of Shelby County. Ray was badly injured but survived, McAdams whatever the reason for his assault did not.

McAdams was arrested in the town of Childersburg on Jan. 2nd for the attempted murder and when the sheriff’s deputies were transporting him back to Wilsonville was intercepted by a mob of 100 White men all brandishing weapons. The threat was too much for the two deputies who immediately surrendered their suspect. About four miles from Wilsonville the mob hung McAdams in a tree and unloaded 50 guns into the body.

The deputies went on to Wilsonville and the sheriff and coroner were notified of the lynching. It was reported that the mob all wore masks and so no one could be identified. There was no further report on J.M. Ray in the Alabama newspapers either, he apparently survived or after the hanging, no one cared. The papers of Alabama held the mob as quiet and dignified adding that they dispersed quickly after justice was served.

 Sources: 

https://www.newspapers.com/image/882782733/?terms=%22J.M%20Ray%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/55228334/?clipping_id=115760383

George Reed A Victim of A Mob's Blood Lust In Georgia

 

Jan 3, 1901, Even when there was no evidence sufficient to hold someone and the court had released them, there was a good chance a Black person could die from any accusation. Such was the case with George Reed in Rome, Georgia.

Mr. Reed was arrested for assaulting the wife of white court bailiff J. M Locklear leaving her near death. Another man Joe Wilson was also arrested, both men proclaimed their innocence when arrested. After the arrests a mob of 150 came to the jail and demanded Reed, alone, be released to them so they could take him to Mrs. Locklear so she could identify him, the mob promised to return him. The only person at the jail at this time was the Turnkey Officer named Lemasters who was fired upon, so he turned over the keys. The mob took Reed to see Mrs. Locklear, but she would not identify him as one of her attackers, stating, “no he is not the man.” Amazingly the mob then returned Reed to the jail and custody of the sheriff. Reed might have believed he was safe, but the blood lust of the mob had been aroused. When District Judge W.M. Henry released Reed for lack of evidence. Reed went to a girlfriend’s house after his release and at approximately 10 PM another mob of 150 men gathered and kidnapped Reed from the home of his girlfriend, Lila Glover, and took him from town. Lila tried to get help and eventually told the sheriff and a deputy to look for Reed, however, according to reports the mob scared them off. They then hung Reed from a tree and emptied over 50 guns into his hanging body. The body was found the next morning and the coroner took possession. Although the mob twice took Reed while unmasked and Georgia  Gov. Allen Candler offered a $15,000 no one was ever arrested or charged with his murder.

This was the 2nd lynching in two weeks in or near Rome and in Floyd County a third would happen in April. After Reed was lynched Georgia House of Representatives member Seaborn Wright wrote in the Rome News Tribune, “Is any man fool enough to think he can limit the action of the mob? Today perhaps in righteous indignation it allays the ravisher of women, but understand, tomorrow, it murders men for sport.” Wright was neither a Democrat nor Republican but a third-party supporter of prohibition and clean government. Wright called on readers of the Rome News-Tribune to “think of its hellish influence upon the minds of the young. The children parading the streets today with chips of the tree upon which the negro hung in their pockets, with pieces of his horribly mutilated body in their hands.”

Image photographer C.W. Orr, Vanishing Georgis Collection, Georgia Archives

 

Sources:

https://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/rome/news/local/lynching-reports-recount-gruesome-mob-rule-history-of-lynching-in-floyd-county-part-two/article_29e9b444-fd86-11e6-b03a-9376cc47dabb.html

https://www.newspapers.com/image/275471807/?terms=%22George%20Reed%22&match=1

https://www.newspapers.com/image/26949508/?terms=%22Joe%20Wilson%22&match=1