The Selma Massacre

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Lost Freeway

Banned
Would Wallace really be so defiant in this situation? AIUI his segregationist rhetoric was just an act to ingratiate himself with the racist Alabama voters. If things really got this hot, I'd assume he'd know when to fold 'em.
 
Historyman 14

Historyman 14

Knightmare said:
Actually, forget Wallace, how would South Africa react to the news of undead Zulu?
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This.

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Dr.Kafka

GiantMonkeyMan said:
Him or Bayard Rustin.
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Bayard Rustin was brilliant, but sadly I don't see him becoming the public leader. As I recall, most other leaders didn't like being publicly associated with him because he was gay.

That said, he really was a natural leader for the movement. If A. Phillip Randolph is the leader, Rustin will definitely have a higher profile in the movement. If Rustin is more prominent, it will be exciting to see how that affects the Civil Rights Movement.
 

Meshakhad

Lost Freeway said:
Would Wallace really be so defiant in this situation? AIUI his segregationist rhetoric was just an act to ingratiate himself with the racist Alabama voters. If things really got this hot, I'd assume he'd know when to fold 'em.
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It's unclear. What he almost certainly believes is that if he buckles under pressure, he won't get popular support. And the combination of a federal crackdown and blacks rioting is going to inflame racial tensions.
 
Osakadave

Osakadave

Meshakhad said:
It's unclear. What he almost certainly believes is that if he buckles under pressure, he won't get popular support. And the combination of a federal crackdown and blacks rioting is going to inflame racial tensions.
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And that, combined with a likely earlier move towards militancy is why I said it'll be bloody...
 

Meshakhad

Knightmare said:
As opposed to being deposed by the Feds and tried for being a racist fuckwit?
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I'm also going with the notion that he was something of a racist himself, and is no longer thinking rationally.

Also, given the inflamed tensions, imagine what the reaction will be if the Feds DO arrest him?
 

GlobalHumanism

Meshakhad said:
I hadn't even thought of that. Well, there goes my "Malcolm X takes over the civil rights movement" idea.

Question: with both MLK and Malcolm X dead, is there anyone who could take charge of the civil rights movement? Coretta Scott King, maybe? Or will the movement largely fragment? It's too bad Star Trek isn't on yet, otherwise I might draft Nichelle Nichols...
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Elijah Muhammed of the Nation of Islam.

He would be the most powerful voice in the Black community and Nation would serve as the most organized conduit for retributive violence.
 
theev

theev

Maybe we could have the Civil Rights Movement take a turn to violence by being led by Eldridge Cleaver?

Though we'll still have to wait a year until he is released from prison, or we could have him escape.
 

Meshakhad

CBS Evening News, March 8, 1965

WALTER CRONKITE: Riots broke out across America today in response to yesterday's police shooting of black protestors in Selma, Alabama. Thousands marched in New York City to mourn the death of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The city of Selma itself has been completely locked down, with troops of the Alabama National Guard patrolling the streets. We have reports that a curfew has been enforced for all African-American residents of Selma.

A press release was issued a few hours ago from Montgomery:

"Acting under the authority of martial law, as declared by the President and Governor, state troopers searched the residence of Martin Luther King, and discovered subversive communist literature, including the writings of Karl Marx. We have also discovered evidence that the protests of March 7 were planned to 'break down' into rioting once they reached Montgomery. Coretta Scott King was placed under arrest under charges of conspiracy to incite violence..."

...the violence in Selma has drawn international attention. Chairman Nikita Kruschev of the USSR condemned the shooting of the protestors...
 
Israel

Israel

Meshakhad said:
CBS Evening News, March 8, 1965

WALTER CRONKITE: Riots broke out across America today in response to yesterday's police shooting of black protestors in Selma, Alabama. Thousands marched in New York City to mourn the death of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The city of Selma itself has been completely locked down, with troops of the Alabama National Guard patrolling the streets. We have reports that a curfew has been enforced for all African-American residents of Selma.

A press release was issued a few hours ago from Montgomery:

"Acting under the authority of martial law, as declared by the President and Governor, state troopers searched the residence of Martin Luther King, and discovered subversive communist literature, including the writings of Karl Marx. We have also discovered evidence that the protests of March 7 were planned to 'break down' into rioting once they reached Montgomery. Coretta Scott King was placed under arrest under charges of conspiracy to incite violence..."

...the violence in Selma has drawn international attention. Chairman Nikita Kruschev of the USSR condemned the shooting of the protestors...
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Was the literature planted at the scene?
 

viperjock

CBS News Report March 7, 1965:

Walter Cronkite: " We have received word that the police departments of New York City, Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. are on alert for possible riots. We have also received reports that US Army troops have begun moving into the Washington D.C. and appear to be preparing to guard federal buildings"

(Walter Cronkite pauses. He picks up a phone and listens intently).

"Our Washington bureau has just confirmed that there are troops now surrounding the White House. Helicopters have been seen flying over the city."
 

Meshakhad

viperjock said:
CBS News Report March 7, 1965:

Walter Cronkite: " We have received word that the police departments of New York City, Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. are on alert for possible riots. We have also received reports that US Army troops have begun moving into the Washington D.C. and appear to be preparing to guard federal buildings"

(Walter Cronkite pauses. He picks up a phone and listens intently).

"Our Washington bureau has just confirmed that there are troops now surrounding the White House. Helicopters have been seen flying over the city."
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Nice. Definitely happening.

Israel said:
Was the literature planted at the scene?
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I don't think it's unrealistic that King owned a copy of Das Kapital or even The Communist Manifesto. He was a political writer, and I know he read other writers. The evidence about the protests was planted. Oh, and Kruschev's condemnation is going to have some very negative consequences.
 
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