The mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, Allen Thompson, is preparing for a wave of civil Tights demonstrations this summer. He has built his tough, riot-trained police force, which is backed by a reserve pool of deputies, state troops, civilians and neighbourhood citizen patrols. With 2.2 million dollars to sPend, his department recently bought 200 shotguns, teargas and gasmasks. It has a motor fleet including treop lorries, searchlight and trailer trucks, and Thompson's Tank-a 13,000 lb. armoured battlewagon costing a dollar per 1b.
The Student Nonviolent Co-ordinating Committee are already planning @ Massive summer campaign of organising their recruits in 'Freedom Schools! community centres and voter registration drives. Thompson, who says he has facilities to 'look after! 25,000, says"There will be no unlawful marching or peaceful picketing. They are not bluffing and we are not bluffing. We are going to be ready for them....they won't have a chance." Note: On April 2nd the Mississippi State Legislature passed a Bill carbing civil rights activity in the state. Many people have already been arrested under this Bill.