Mayor Asks Compliance (Jackson, MS--July, 1964)

(Frank's note: As mentioned yesterday, looking at the past can be perplexing. How is it that women didn't always have the vote in this country? Why was there ever a need to establish child labor laws in America? How could there be such a separation between races 100 years after a war to end slavery? I have no answers to those questions.

What I know is that Mississippi and other areas of this country were ready to explode in the early 1960's. In 1962 there were 2 deaths, 175 injuries, and 212 arrest in a campus riot the day before James Meridith became the first black student at Ole Miss. Medgar Evers was killed in Jackson in 1963. James Cheney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner were killed in Philadelphia, MS in June, 1964. I guess Mississippi had already started exploding and then came the passage of the The Civil Rights Act of 1964 on July 2, 1964.

At this critical time in Mississippi history, with the governor of the state calling for non-compliance, 16 Jackson businessmen went on record July 3rd supporting compliance with the law. Their statement didn't support the law, it even questioned if the law was constitutional, but it recognized that this was now a law and urged businesses and people to obey the law.

Far from being a weak statement, you will read below and later this week about the outrage that followed the Jackson Chamber of Commerce statement. It was as far as they could possibly go in 1964 and it set the stage for Jackson Mayor Allen Thompson to publicly support the same position of compliance. Considering how things got so out of hand at Ole Miss in 1962, the possibility certainly was there for a far more violent summer in Jackson if this group of businessmen hadn't step in so quickly with such a bold statement--at least bold in the context of the time and situation.

For the record, I recognize that the motivation behind the vote of these 16 men must have varied. For some, it might have simply been a business decision. It's hard to make money if there are riots, boycotts, and lawsuits for refusing service. For others, it was a vehicle for advancing social issue. For most, it was probably a combination of factors. Whatever the reason, they all had the option of finding an excuse to miss the meeting and yet these 16 men were willing to show up and vote on something that was going to be very unpopular and controversial. That took courage and it's a shame that this part of Jackson history is almost totally forgotten.

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Mayor Asks Compliance
by William L. Chaze, Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer
(no date given--my guess is Friday, July 10, 1964)

Jackson Mayor Allen Thompson Thursday acknowledged that the new civil rights law makes the city "sick all over" but urged compliance. "We'll go along with it, though we don't like it," Thompson said. "In two months, things will be worked out so that we can live with the law."

Thompson urged compliance at a meeting with his department heads at city hall. The meeting was attended by leaders of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, about 50 city employees and a number of police officers.

In making his statement, Thompson drew a sharp contrast with Gov. Paul B. Johnson who urged noncompliance with the law.

"I'm fond of Gov. Johnson," Thompson said, "but I don't know how or why he made his remarks. The governor is an astute man, but his thinking on the theory of noncompliance is making it difficult for us."

ENDORSES IT

"People have been getting excited about the chamber statement urging us to obey the law," Thompson said. "I want you all to know that I had nothing to do with the statement, but, I endorse it 100 per cent."

The mayor warned against the consequences of noncompliance. He said the city was "full of Federal Bureau of Investigation and Justice Department men with unlimited money, police and legal power, poised to act."

"We are going to obey the law and protect you against harassment and intimidation," Thompson promised. "If we disobey the law," he said, "we'll have violence, bloodshed and insurrection."

Thompson urged "each citizen to take stock of the situation and decide who has the decision to make. Are we going to continue living in a progressive city? If you feel you don't have to obey one law--the civil rights code--you'll soon feel that you don't have to obey any law."

Thompson said peaceful compliance with the civil rights code in Mississippi has already had far-ranging effects. He said Jackson representatives were recently in New York City to sell $10 million in bonds "and financiers were eager to buy because we are at peace down here."

"You can't call this going along capitulation," Thompson said, "because it is just common sense. What kind of city would we have here if we shut everything down just because a few colored folks showed up?" Thompson asked. "Do you know what would happen if I got up here and told you that you didn't have to obey the law? The federal government would move troops in here--what kind of situation would you have then...what type of existence?" he asked.

"We are going to abide by the law and you can count on your leaders fighting," Thompson said. "We'll operate within the law and you'll be protected from violence, bloodshed, dirtiness, intimidation, harassment and discomfort. This is the only way we can go."

Thompson received a round of applause after his statement.

By United Press International

Jackson Mayor Allen Thompson, who has led this city down the paths of defiance to integration, Thursday urged businessmen to comply with the civil rights law. The mayor said "we can't turn down all the stores just to keep from serving a few Negroes."

The mayor's statement followed a resolution passed by the Mississippi House of Representatives Wednesday condemning the executive committee of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce for taking the same position.

When lawmakers returned to the capitol Thursday, on each desk was a copy of minutes of the chamber meeting which said Thompson privately supported the position. "Mayor Thompson was present as the policy statement was developed and stated on a confidential basis that he was in favor of such a statement and thought it would help in the Jackson situation," the minutes read.

Sources said the copies of the minutes were distributed by a disgruntled member of the board who was absent from the meeting.

MAYOR ATTACKED

Sen. Hayden Campbell of Jackson, infuriated by Thompson's speech, tried to get the resolution called up for a vote immediately in the state Senate, but opponents forced it into the Rules Committee.

In a speech on the Senate floor, Campbell said "Allen Thompson is weak! He has always been weak and his true colors are just now coming out." Campbell said "he has been politically lucky over a period of years, but these are trying times...demanding that men stand up and be counted and those who are weak are going to be swept from the mainstream of our affairs...."

Sen. Noel Monaghan fought the immediate consideration of the resolution. He said, "We pass too many resolutions. We are here to pass laws."

Sen. Ellis Bodron of Vicksburg argued against censuring the Chamber Committee. He said "the freedom to be different is one of our most fundamental freedoms."

Sen. G. V. Montgomery of Meridian moved to send the resolution to committee. He said there were "strong segregationists" among the Chamber members he did not want to censure.

Thompson is the past had developed a formula of hard-nosed resistance to integration, and had police quickly arrest demonstrators. Since the passage of the civil rights law, however, the city has taken no action to stop enforcement of the new federal law.

"The mayor pointed out that as political leader and head of the police force of the city, he felt that he should not make any statement of any kind," the chamber minutes read. "Because any position he might take in the present situation would bring on controversy from pressure groups, either Negro or white."

The minutes, signed by Chamber Secretary Mendell M. Davis, said "the motion passed on a voice vote with no dissenting votes expressed" to urge compliance.

The minutes said those present at the meeting included James B. Campbell, W. H. 'Brock' Day, Robert Ezelle, Purser Hewitt, Fred Johnson, Garner Lester, Thurman Lewis, W. M. Mann, Richard McRae, Hal D. Miller, Leon Thomas, George M. Wilkinson, Sherwood Wise, Nat Rogers, Bob Hearin and Bill Underwood.