from S.N.C.C.
Over 200 people were arrested in Jackson, Mississippi, on June 15th. There are approximately 700 people locked up within the confines of the Jackson State Fair Grounds.” They are being housed in a large wooden building where Jackson usually holds its annual fairs, The bail is in the amount of $50,000 but most people plan to stay in gaol rather than bring that much money into the state of Mississippi. The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party office has requested money for food and housing for people coming in from other states with the intention of keeping the protests in full swing. They also need money for the people when they decide to leave gaol.
The demonstrations on June 15th were led by Mr. John Lewis, chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and Mr. Charles Evers, District Director for the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People. They were both arrested. Mr. Lewis arrived in Jackson the previous night after he received word of the 472 people being arrested and charged with "demonstrating without a permit" and for those who went limp the charge was “resisting arrest."
The demonstrators are protesting against the convening of the special session of the Legislature which began on June 14th. They are making known their objections to the fact that the State Legislature,like the 5 Congress= men, were not elected by all the people and, therefore, cannot legally represent them. At a mass meeting held at the Morning Star Baptist Church in Jackson, Mr, Lewis stated "The Movement in Mississippi is a movement not of leaders, but of people. There will be no peace in Jackson and in Washington until the black people of Mississippi can have a voice in determining their economic and political destinies."