[Begun by Medgar Evers and an interracial team in late 1961, the Mississippi Free Press was a four-page weekly newspaper covering the Freedom Movement and African-American community news. It was edited and written by John Salter, Charlie Butts, Gilbert Moses, Lucy Komisar, Henry Kirksey and other Civil Rights Movement activists. Initially, the Free Press was printed in Holmes County by Mrs. Hazel Brannon Smith and shipped to Jackson for distribution. On occassion, white officials attempted to block its distribution, police often harassed its writers and photographers who were trying to cover the news from a Black perspective and the newsboys who sold the paper risked violence and arrest on trumped up charges. Due to unrelenting pressure, Mrs. Brannon was forced to cease printing the paper, but a union printer in Memphis agreed to carry it on. ]
December 16, 1961, Rev. R.L.T. Smith runs for Congress, Conspiracy trial in Clarkesdale December 23, 1961, First Public Civil Rights Hearing is Held, Police Brutality in Several Counties December 30, 1961, Negro is Victim to Police Brutality, NAACP Reply
January 20, 1962, Ole Miss Integration Suit Delayed, NAACP Files Desegregation Suit February 10, 1962, Police Intimidation Continues in Mississippi, FBI Investigates Police Brutality in Clarksdale February 24, 1962, Police Brutality in Affidavit, Ministers aim to End Church School Jim Crow March 10, 1962, Leake Negroes Asked for Integration, Trial Not Yet Set for NAACP Head March 17, 1962, Aaron Henry convicted and appeals, Reasons Why Negro Citizens Should Vote April 7, 1962, Negro GI Almost Lynched, NAACP Appeal to U.S. Attorney General Kennedy April 21, 1962, 2 Negroes on State Ballot, Integrationists Hold Conference in Alabama May 5, 1962, Human Relations Council Formed in State, Beaten Students Ask for protests May 12, 1962, Jackson desegregates buses, Easter Kneel-Ins at Talledega May 26, 1962, Negro Killed Over Love Affair, Southern Bias documented June 9, 1962, Protesters arrested on federal property, Mississippi men promised a "Fair Deal" June 30, 1962, Ole Miss integrating, NAACP Attorneys Gain 2-1 Decision July 7, 1962, Leaders organize Southern Democratic Conference, Functions of Mississippi State Government July 14, 1962, Reapportionment in Mississippi, NAACP Role of Politics July 21, 1962, Employees protest bakery over inequality, The Importance of Labor Unions July 28, 1962, Harts Employees Continue to Strike, Unjust imprisonment of black college student August 4, 1962, Employees Still on Strike at Harts Bakery, Drop in voting complaints reported August 8, 1962, MS governor promotes anti-labor law, Voter Registration Continues in Ruleville Despite Threats August 11, 1962, Stikes occur at 14 sites in Jackson, Mishandled funds in Clarksdale August 18, 1962, Petition to Integrate Schools, Civil Rights Committee to Meet August 25, 1962, Strike ends with small pay hike, Free Press reporter threatened September 1, 1962, Congress Says "No Poll Tax", Voter registration continues despite threats September 8, 1962, "Right to Work" announced by governor, Intimidation in Ruleville, History of Clyde Kennard September 15, 1962, Court orders Meredith admitted to Ole Miss, Two Injured in Ruleville Ambush September 22, 1962, Interpostion or Integration? JFK on protection of voting rights September 29, 1962, MS governor again blocks Meredith from registering at Ole Miss. October 6, 1962, Meredith enrolls after court battle, Citizens form voters league in Ruleville October 13, 1962, The Nation Pulls for Meredith, Terror and violence throughout Mississippi October 20, 1962, State fair boycott, Investigation of Possible Rural Help October 27, 1962, Apportionment Plan Up for Vote, Laborers Union Removes Weak Rep. November 3, 1962, Government promised to admit Meredith, Union organizer risks intimidation November 10, 1962, Government investigaes illegal job discrimination, Discrimination forbidden in companies with federal contracts November 17, 1962, Bills endorsed by MS governor fail, Surplus food program stripped to deny voter registration November 24, 1962, MS Union Leader Attacks Hate Group, Legislature considers reapportionment December 1, 1962, Jackson Plant Ordered to Rehire Union Men, Appeal Seeks to Release Kennard December 8, 1962, Greenville workers vote for union at plants, Illegal "Yellow Dog" contracts used to intimidate workers December 15, 1962, Resolutions support federal aid for farms but not schools, Operation Freedom to Assist Delta Citizens December 22, 1962, Nation-wide petition for Clyde Kennard, Rural areas lose influence in reapportionment proposal December 29, 1962, U.S. to prosecute Governor Barnett & Lt. Governer Johnson, Lawsuites filed against denial of voting rights in Hattiesburg
January 5, 1962, Two activists arrested for bring food to starving families, Picketers Attempt to Disqualify Judge Cox January 12, 1963, Ministers Speak Out on Discrimination, Conservatives Lose House Rules Battle January 19, 1963, Meredith harrassed at 'Ole Miss, Mississippi group calls for civil rights hearings January 26, 1963, Clyde Kennard dying of cancer refused medical treatment, Gulf Coast school segreagation February 2, 1963, Meredith Will Return to Ole Miss, Kennard released from jail Febuary 9, 1963, Ole Miss case goes to circuit court, Four beatings in Brandon February 16, 1963, Sharecroppers Tell of Poverty in Delta, Federal money supports job bias February 23, 1963, ILGWU Says Firm Threatened Workers, Oppose U.S. Support to Bias in Training March 2, 1963, Bias May Halt Job Training, Courts asked to desegregate public schools March 9, 1963, Federal protection demanded after attemted killing, Parents ask to open Jackson's schools March 16, 1963, Greenwood Citizens Attempt to Register, Leake County Parents File Desegregation Suit March 23, 1963, Continued illegal segregation despite orders, Action to make segregation expensive March 30, 1963, 125,000 school children skip lunch due to lack of funding, Mississippi students denied information on free lunches April 6, 1963, Hundreds ask for voting rights in Greenwood, Greenvile Hospital maintains inadequate accomodations April 13, 1963, Greenwood Leaders Disappointed by Justice Dept. Kennedy sends civil rights bill to congress April 20, 1963, Diggs (D-MI) to See Pres. About Delta Situation, 4 Citizens Report Repisals After Seeking Registration April 27, 1963, Kennedy refuses to cut off federal funds to MS, More Deltans Apply Daily at Courthouse May 4, 1963, Chemical workers union, Woman beaten then convicted of "Distrubing the Peace," Work for Cotton Field Hands is Disappearing May 11, 1963, MS Vote Drive Gathers Speed, Aaron Henry's store bombed, Union leader supports bill against job discrimination May 18, 1963, Coop stated in Ruleville, Jackson NAACP threatens protests, Lunch Program Lacks Funds May 25, 1963, Medgar Evers demands bi-racial talks in Jackson, Supreme Court throws out segregation protest convictions, Reprisals against voter applicants in Delta June 1, 1963, The Goal is Freedom, Greenville City Council Asks Bi-Racial Meeting, Chemical Workers Fight Union-Busters in Delta June 8, 1963, Police Jail Over 600, Clarksdale demands, Strike at Harts Bread June 15, 1963, Evers Murdered, Winona Police Jailed and Beat Three Delta Women, Jackson Youths Parade Despite "Illegal to Demonstrate" Injunction June 22, 1963, Thousands Mourn Evers, Police Power Meets Protesters During Days of Demonstrations June 29, 1963, Killer Suspect Charged, People Jailed as Campaigns Grow in in Itta Bena, Greenwood, Shotgun Blast Strikes Youth Near Canton Voter Meeting July 6, 1963, Mississippi Shakes as Demonstrations Grow, Justice Department Defends Rights of 51 Delta Citizens July 13, 1963, Clerk Wants Rest; Negroes Want Vote, Kennard Dies of Cancer, Mississipi state fair boycott success July 20, 1963, Negroes Get Vote, Or Clerk Gets Jail, Continue Hearing on Injunction to Release Itta Bena Citizens July 27, 1963, 300 Protest City's Way of Life, Deny Freedom to 45 Jailed Since June 18 August 3, 1963, Protest against second class citizenship, Freedom buses head to Washington August 10, 1963, 733 Vote for Freedom, 81 held in Clarksdaly jail, March on Washington demands jobs & equality August 17, 1963, CR Group Charges Police With Brutality, Open Voter Books Set Trials for 304 (Jackson) August 24, 1963, Ole Miss Graduates Meredith, Negroes to File Freedom Votes, Washington March Gains Support August 31, 1963, Negroes Mount Massive Protest, Education in Mississippi, Tougaloo Plays Role in Fight For Rights September 7, 1963, March on Washington stories & reactions, Governors race outcome, Warning about loan sharks September 14, 1963, Mayor Turns Down Civil Rights Inquiry, Students back to protesting in streets September 21, 1963, Birmingham the Cost of Violence, 200,000 Negroes to Vote, Marchers wait for upcoming hearings September 28, 1963, Delta police kill black man, Boycott proves to be a powerful weapon October 5, 1963, MFDP chooses candidates for freedom ballot, Voter registration drive planned in Vicksburg October 12, 1963, We Shall Vote for Freedom, Negroes Get Shackled, Tougaloo College girls arrested October 19, 1963, "We Will Be Free" COFO candidates chosen, YMCA programs need support October 26, 1963, A Pulpit for Freedom Rev. Ed King, Negroes Wield Ballot Power, They Can't Even Spell (Mississippi education) November 2, 1963, Henry Nears Election Minister Decries Church Segregation, freedom election November 9, 1963, 90,000 Vote for Henry, Gov. Johnson Refused Consent of Governed, Vicksburg the Sick City November 16, 1963, Workers Reap Poverty, Adults Back in School, Freedom Vote challenges state November 23, 1963, Schools Open Chairs Empty (adult education), Living Condition Inhuman, Sheriff, School Superintendent Use Abuse of Office November 30, 1963, Nation Mourns Kennedy, Assasination and Climate of Violence, Mississippi Education Separate and Unequal December 7, 1963, Adequate Education Needed, Black-owned Jackson Advocate falsely portrays satisfied negroes, Civil Rights bill What it Would Mean December 14, 1963, Church members decieved by boycotted store, Conflicting claims about negro paper December 21, 1963, Multiple stories about Christmas boycott of white merchants by Jackson Movement December 28, 1963, Army Still Segregated, We're United Not Violent
January 4, 1964, COFO launches drive for poll tax, Jackson gas workers walk out in protest January 11, 1964, Farm Workers Robbed, Blacks prevented from paying poll tax, COFO Welfare Group Attempts to Aid Poor January 18, 1964, Vote Denials Blasted, McComb Shooting Damages Homes, Federal Intervention Needed, Moses Says January 25, 1964, Canton Fights Back, District Court Judges Often Show Prejudice, TV star refuses to attend all-white show February 1, 1964, Poll Tax Outlawed, 300 in Hattiesburg Demand Ballot Rights, Al Hirt refuses to play to segregated audience February 8, 1964, Three Students Shot, Never Turn Back -- Henry, Army Official Denies Segregation February 2, 1964, Whites shoot negro in Liberty, Canton police beat youths, 360,000 Boycott Schools in NYC, White jury in Beckwith trial. February 22, 1964, No conviction in Louis Allen murder, Opposition to Civil Rights Bill, Book: the Negro in Mississippi History. February 29, 1964, Evers: "We'll Protect Ourselves," Freedom Day in Canton, Nixon Warns Against Negroes, Rust Students Attend Ole Miss Lecture March 3, 1964, Civil Rights Bill filibuster, Pres. Johnson on Civil Rights, 350 show up to register only 5 permitted, Can Trial by Jury Render Justice... March 14, 1964, Senate battles Civil Rights bill, Canton Students Boycott, Natchez Man Might Be KKK Lynch Victim March 3, 1964, Anti-boycott letters sent to whites, NAACP wins integration injunction in court March 28, 1964, Hospital Segregation Challenged; 2 Negroes Run for Congress, Should Negro History be Taught in School? March 4, 1964, Anti-Civil Right Ad Attacked, Mississippi Freedom Summer announced by CORE and SNCC, NAACP defense brilliant in court April 11, 1964, Negroes run for office, Medgar assassin re-trial, Diary of Greenwood, Voting barriers April 18, 1964, Victoria Gray challenged Sen. Stennis, More on voting barriers, Negroe history ignored April 25, 1964, Bus slapping incident protest, Negroes in the American Revolutionary War, Beckwith freed on bond May 2, 1964, debates Civil Right Act, First Congressional Medal of Honor bestowed on negro patriot, The impact of your vote May 9, 1964, Alcorn students boycott under-education, Medicare and public health in mississippi May 16, 1964, Alcorn student protests continue, Women Strike for Peace rally, Hazel Brannon Smith wins Pulitzer May 23, 1964, Brown University helps Tougaloo College, Just What is Civil Rights? May 30, 1964, School Segregation Yes, Volunteer Lawyers Corps, The Big Lie June 6, 1964, Freedom Day in Blood, Tougaloo Professor beaten, Ask Federal Protection June 13, 1964, At What Price Freedom -the Medgar Evers family, Long Bloody Summer June 20, 1964, Civil Rights Measure Assured, Legislation Designs Police State June 27, 1964, They Made Civil Rights A Must, Hot Summer Is On, One Man One Vote July 4, 1964, Civil Rights Hearing for Mississippi, 3 Activists Dead, Cannot Grow Without Truth-A Free Electorate Needed July 11, 1964, Jackson Mississippi arms to suprress civil rights, NAACP Board Makes civil rights Test, No Vote No Representation July 18, 1964, Grade-A-Year Desegregation, Civil Rights Act in Jackson, New Freedom Schools Opening July 25, 1964, Goldwater a stronger supremist, MFDP boost: Crowds Turn Out for MLK, School Desegregation Plans Contested August 1, 1964, White Democratic party suicide, MFDP Challenge Old Order Politics, MLK helps Freedom Dem Party registration [MFP publication ceased with the August 1, 1964 issue.]
See also Articles About the Movement in Mississippi
See also Mississippi Freedom Movement for web links.
See also Mississippi Movement for books.
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