The Scene at the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial: Hour 2

START AUDIO
Geesey:
Malcolm Davis is situated at the stage on the Washington Monument grounds where a lot of this entertainment is to take place in just a few moments to entertain these people as they assemble. The crowd so far reported by police to be about 25,000 people. Let’s switch now to reporter Malcolm Davis.
Davis:
Here on the stage Ms. Ruby Lee is now reading to the mass of people out here and a few moments ago Joan Baez, the famous folk singer was singing to them. Let’s just for a few moments listen to Ms. Ruby Lee as she reads. Well, unfortunately the audio portion of this reading is rather difficult to obtain quite clearly at present.
Maybe we’ll be able to join the entertainment a little later on. The only person that has arrived on the stage at this point is Mr. Rustin the March leader, and we do hope to be talking to him later. In the meantime, let’s go back to George Geesey.
Geesey:
One of the other antagonistic groups expected to show up sometime today is a group called The Prospects. They’re made up of affluent Negro and White right-wingers, and reportedly they’re sending a caravan of cars here to demonstrate in the Washington area. Another possible source of demonstrators is the militant Negro sect of Black Muslims.
Although their leader Malcom X has said that he wants nothing to do with the March today. And the National States’ Rights party members have also announced plans to counter demonstrate with about forty different groups. However, they will not join forces with Rockwell’s Nazi Party, and their leader has said that he was embarrassed when Rockwell’s forces tried to join a past demonstration.
So the only one on the scene so far is George Lincoln Rockwell’s American Nazi Party. They’re east of the Washington Monument and in very close proximity to this assembly area where all of the people from out of town are meeting.
And, of course, Washington participants are gathering on the Ellipse area. One of our other ERN reporters is situated right on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for broadcasting this afternoon all of the activities, which will be transpiring there. But, he has a report right now. So let’s call in David Eckelston.
Eckelston:
Since the last time I reported to you about an hour ago, the crowd here has grown to a tremendous 200. This growth has occurred in the past half hour just about doubling itself every ten minutes. Also, that Army troop helicopter has made several flights over the area. The second one it made flew from treetop level from here at the Lincoln Memorial down to the Capitol Building and around and started back on up.
But then it stopped off there at the Washington Monument, flew across the Monument grounds between the Monument and the Capitol, started to go back south again and then all of a sudden rose almost vertically. It hovered for maybe ten or twenty seconds above those grounds. Then it came back down at tree top level and proceeded on back here to the Lincoln Memorial.
The National Guard now, one contingent of them, is standing around on a baseball diamond near the Department of State. The Promenade in front of the Lincoln Memorial has been set up with metal chairs to seat approximately 2,200 but I doubt if many people will want to sit there right away because as metal seats do when they’re left in the sun, they’ve gotten quite hot.
From this vantage point, you can see at least twelve TV cameras focused on the Lincoln Memorial, five motion picture cameras and to serve the audience here, there are nine electrostatic speakers. They look like a plank of wood hung on some of the parts of the monument, and several other horn-type speakers to reach clear back to the Washington Monument.
Speaking of the Washington Monument, from my vantage point now, there are seven buses parked where there were none before. They apparently left passengers off at the Monument grounds and then continued to park there. The cables here are the word of the day; there are twenty-seven cables in back of me, twenty-two in front of me, and three under my chair. All types of cables.
Cables for radio circuits, telephone lines, electric cables, and television cables. And probably the most drastic thing that has happened here that is quieted the place down quite a bit is the stoppage of traffic around the Lincoln Memorial. It stopped but for police patrols and one soft drink truck went by. Now back to George Geesey in Radio Central.

Commitment of the American Jewish Congress to the March

Geesey:
Another one of our reporters, Al Hulsen, is standing by right beside the stage on the Washington Monument grounds and he has some more of the people who have come here to Washington today to enter into this parade. Al, let’s call you in at this time. Al Hulsen at the stage on the Washington Monument grounds. Can you hear us and can you come in at this time.
Epstein:
Anyone who makes the March on Washington has to have a personal feeling about this thing, and, I feel very deeply that the time has certainly come when everybody ought to get a fair shake in jobs, education, and housing and in treatment in terms of dignity as a citizen on the streets and in public accommodations. Secondly, of course, I belong to an organization because of that commitment, which is devoted to this ideal, and has been for a long time.
For example, the same package of civil rights laws, which are being proposed by the President to the Congress of the United States today we in New Jersey through the American Jewish Congress drafted legislation like that fifteen years ago, and had it passed in the State of New Jersey in cooperation with other organizations like NAACP and Urban League and so on.
And we’d like to see the rights that we’ve been able to win in New Jersey hit other people. Lastly, of course, I’d like to mention that we’re so committed that one of the ten national chairmen in this, Rabbi Prinz, who is also from New Jersey and Newark, is one of the people who will be a speaker and one of the people who’s helped organize this.
Hulsen:
Do you see any evidence that this march today will have any affect on the passage of the civil rights legislation?
Epstein:
I really hope so and I think that this great massing of people here today will certainly give heart to those members of Congress who stand for the President’s Civil Rights Legislation. I hope it will do much to convince those who are opposed or those who have been neutral that a tremendous number of Americans from all parts of the United States mean business on this subject and want to see this legislation passed now.
Hulsen:
Mr. Greiman, would you tell us how you organized today’s trip to Washington?
Greiman:
Well, the American Jewish Congress, which has always taken a broad view on the citizenship responsibilities, invited every one of its members nationally to attend this gathering in order to implement the ideals and goals of the March on Washington.
For myself, I fought in WWII and I remember the four freedoms and I think it’s a crying shame that after all these years that the oppressed Negro minority suffers such a deprivation of jobs of security of good housing and of fair opportunity in life. And I’m very happy to see the Congress and myself individually and these other gentlemen help to dramatize what is certainly a crying need in a democracy as rich and as comfortable as the United States is.
Hulsen:
What is your reaction to the number of whites and non-whites here, the percentage of each?
Greiman:
Well, there are a lot of whites here, but since the Negroes only make up ten percent of the population, I really do feel badly that they don’t have as many whites here as Negroes. I think it’s very inspirational. It’s a heartening sight to see these tens of thousands of people that are here at this early hour. And, I think that it lends great encouragement to those persons who believe in the Jeffersonian ideals that are personified here.
Hulsen:
Mr. Epstein, when did you get here?
Epstein:
We left at midnight by car from New Jersey and we got here about four in the morning, and we’ve been up since.
Hulsen:
No sleep at all?
Epstein:
No sleep at all.
Greiman:
We feel fine.
Hulsen:
How about tonight? What are you doing?
Greiman:
Tonight, we’ll be home and feeling that we’ve done a wonderful thing being here.
Hulsen:
Will you be participating the March later today?
Greiman:
Oh, yes.
Hulsen:
Those two members, Larry Greiman and Ben Epstein of the New Jersey Region of the American Jewish Congress.

Joan Baez's Sentiments for the March

Geesey:
Al Hulsen with the report from the Washington Monument grounds. Let’s go now to reporter Malcolm Davis on those same grounds.
Davis:
I’m right here on the stage at present Joan Baez has once again gone before the microphones on the podium and is now beginning to entertain the vast audience. Let’s listen to Joan Baez.
Joan Baez singing, “We Shall Overcome.” Singing Con’t.
Davis:
That was Joan Baez who was singing from the stage of the Washington Monument and now the ERN reporter Al Hulsen was able to interview Ms. Baez. Here is that interview.
Hulsen:
I’m doing now an interview with Ms. Joan Baez.
Baez:
But not usually rallies.
Hulsen:
How do you think they’ve received you?
Baez:
I don’t know. Well, fine. It doesn’t concern me too much. I don’t know. I think people like to sing. I think they like to express themselves and I like to do it with them. I’m not too concerned with their reaction to me.
Hulsen:
Ms. Baez, what prompted you to come here today?
Baez:
All men are created equal. It’s as simple as that.
Hulsen:
Have you been successful?
Baez:
Creating them equal. What do you mean? That I’ve been successful? I don’t understand.
Hulsen:
Have you been successful in fostering for human rights?
Baez:
Have I been successful?
Hulsen:
Yes.
Baez:
Oh, I don’t know. I don’t know. I think something is being done. Something is being accomplished. I don’t know where I stand. I’m really glad to be here. People are standing up and walking and even after the [inaudible] at Davis, the government isn’t going to listen, and I don’t know what’s going to happen here.
Hulsen:
Do feel this will have some effect on the ...?
Geesey:
Al Hulsen is talking by recording with the singer that you just heard, Joan Baez, and because of technical problems evidently it’s not clear a recording. We’ll try to get that cleared up and give it to you again. She is one of the Hollywood entertainers, one of the folk singers who is on the stage now, on the Washington Monument grounds entertaining the assembled people, which police estimate now to be 25,000 people.
Of course, the normal busy pace of the Washington business world has pretty well stopped today. All non-essential workers have been urged to take annual leave, and a preliminary check showed that at least half of all of the government employees would not report at all today. And parking has been virtually banned in the downtown area. Bus service during rush hour will be rather sketchy this morning. Most of the downtown stores will be open in hopes that the visitors will take time to shop. Restaurant owners are varied in their expectations.
Many plan to serve only one item so that they could have a fast accommodation of people as they come in and out of the restaurant. And as one restaurant owner put it, if the chef is too busy I want something that the bus boy can prepare and serve and that might be the case in restaurants downtown today. The surprising factor is that local hotels reported rather a drop off in business as today approached.
They say that non-marchers are avoiding Washington this week and most of the marchers do not plan to stay overnight because a lot of the buses will be going back in the Washington area leaving via Central Station and going home before night so they won’t have to stay here. We had a report from the train station.
They say the Concourse is clear around Union Station, where about 80 shuttle buses have been carrying the people back and forth to 15th Street and Constitution Avenue where they’ve been dropping them off so that they can get into the assembly area. All people have been taken from the train station to the assembly area so it’s relatively clear this time. And although there are extra police in the area evidently the traffic is not a problem, and as the police say the situation is very well in hand.
Sightseeing attractions will be for the most part operating normally today. The White House will be open longer than usual to accommodate extra tourists, and a spokesman said Washington Monument will open until the crush of the crowd becomes too much to handle. This mass march on Washington has certainly brought a massive influx of people into this area by airplane and by train.
And, of course, the big problem are those who are coming by automobile. Police have planned to park about 2,100 buses but they had made no plans for the parking of private automobiles. And although there are some large fringe area parking lots around Washington the largest only handles about 500 cars.
So you can soon see that would fill up and the other two have even less space available to park cars. So there might be a mass of parked cars around Washington not being able to get in by automobile and walking and we’ll have several marches on Washington taken on. Part of this live ERN coverage is being heard in Philadelphia by Educational Station WUHY-FM where Jim Keeler, a regular on the ERN has a report for us.

Asa Philip Randolph and the Origins of the March

Keeler:
...March on Washington. We’ll be checking in a little while with the editorial page and the early editions of the Philadelphia Bulletin. In the Bulletin last night under the byline of Thomas O’Neill the following article appeared.
“To a remarkable extent tomorrow’s massing in the capitol of Negroes demanding a redress of grievances is the creature of a single man. And perhaps equally remarkable that the creator alone appears to be without qualm that the demonstration could possibly get out of hand and turn disastrously back upon its makers. The inspiration for the march was provided by Asa Philip Randolph, a man of stately courtesy but was never shaken while he stood off discouragements from the White House and from Congressional well-wishers who saw militants among the demonstrators turning into violence with chilling effect upon civil rights legislation.
Mr. Randolph was serene, the conviction to which he subscribes more fully than others, that the protest movement against discrimination includes no lunatic fringe. Randolph, age 74, is President of the small and withering of sleeping car porters and among the phalanx of AFL-CIO Vice Presidents is the only Negro. The AFL-CIO, given to talking racial equality and practicing segregation, Thomas O’Neill continues, withheld its seal of approval from the Randolph plan for what the prospectus picture is as the biggest joining of discontent ever presented in Washington.
But Mr. Randolph appears to have anticipated that out of long experience with his brothers in the labor movement. Outside the ranks of the organizers, the feeling expressed in the beginning has been that such a demonstration has a small capacity for advancing the President’s civil rights package of legislation against an unlimited capacity for damage to that program by falling into a display of violence or other acts of recklessness. Only recently did the apprehension begin to ease beyond the acknowledgement that the right of petition includes properly controlled demonstration.
The change of attitude was prompted for the most part by the recruitment among the marchers of ranking clergy in numbers and by the cooperation of the March leaders with the stringent regulations intended to keep the demonstrations together and a body well removed from Capitol Hill. The presence of the church hierarchy is counted upon to exert a restraining influence upon wilder spirits among the marchers.
The policing arrangements to keep willful troublemakers in hand and the good will induced by white participation to temper orators who might otherwise make personal attacks on congressmen that would provoke resentment among all legislators.” Mr. O’Neill concludes, “Booers at the mention of individual legislators that would be passed over when delivered at meetings in other cities would become intolerable attempts at intimidation with the District of Columbia.” Under the byline of Thomas O’Neill this article appeared in last evening’s Philadelphia Bulletin. This is Jim Keeler in Philadelphia returning you now to George Geesey at WAMU in Washington.
Geesey:
In an effort to keep account of what’s happening on the stage area on the Washington Monument where some more of the current trend of folk music singers are entertaining the assembled group, let’s go to reporter Malcolm Davis in that area.
Davis:
I am here on the stage area. I am right up on the stage right now. The celebrities are beginning to arrive, and at present Peter, Paul and Mary are just approaching the microphones. They are about to sing to the crowd. Let’s go now and join that.
Peter, Paul and Mary singing. Singing con’t. (song: Blowin’ In the Wind)
Davis:
That was part of the entertainment that has just started here on the stage. We have to be back here shortly again with other entertainers. Now back to George Geesey.
Geesey:
Thank you, Malcolm. That’s just some of the many entertainers that will be here today in town. Earlier reports from Hollywood said that the producer Cheryl Crawford will be here, Judy Garland, Kirk Douglas, Harry Belafonte, as members of a delegation led by Marlon Brando.
And not all of those are expected to march but perhaps just participate silently to join the marchers in support of equal rights for all. The man behind the organization of today’s March on Washington is A. Philip Randolph. For more than forty years he’s been know to his own people as Negro Laborers’ Champion. He’s 74 years old and he’s had a history of parade organizations. For instance, in 1941, he was behind the March on the Washington movement to protest armed forces segregation and to demand more jobs for fellow Negroes in industry.
He formed and is now the president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. He describes the March today as an attempt to pressure Congress for fast action on pending civil rights legislation. Well, let’s go now to another ERN station participating participating in this live coverage from Washington and bringing this program to listeners in New York City. Now let’s call in Bill Price at WNYC. Bill Price, are you ready with a report in New York?
Price:
Some twenty-one years ago a demonstration was held in Washington. We never even knew anything about it but we’ve contacted Mr. George W. Goodman who is now Public Affairs Director of one of the Negro stations here in New York, WLIB. And he wants to reminisce about demonstrations and marches on the telephone with yours truly Bill Price. Hello, George.
Goodman:
Hello there. Listen, this whole March on Washington now certainly calls to mind a great many things that happened twenty-one years ago when Negroes were in much the same plight as far as job opportunities are concerned that they are right today. It was then the beginning of our war effort really, and Negroes were just practically excluded from certain work capacity because they couldn’t get training for it.
That was really what made A. Philip Randolph call Walter White and Dr. Tobias and Kinckle Jones of the National Urban League together to talk about what would happen in order to stir some interest and some changes. Now, that was basically the thing that sort of brought up this whole idea, because Mr. A. Philip Randolph was the one that suggested that it ought to be some kind of dramatic impact that was made.
Price:
In other words, this demonstration today was in the embryo stages twenty-one years ago?
Goodman:
That’s very true.
Price:
My mathematics aren’t too good, Mr. Goodman. Twenty-one years ago is approximately what year or what year was it?
Goodman:
About 1941.
Price:
1941. That was during the Second World War?
Goodman:
That’s right and actually what happened is out of it came before the march actually occurred President Roosevelt issued his proclamation, which brought the first FEPC, Fair Employment Practice Commission.
Price:
Yes, that’s right.
Goodman:
And since that time in these intervening years, this has spread over about eighteen different states and into many city ordinances. So that started the whole impetus back then and culminates today in this mass march on Washington and made Philip Randolph as a [incomprehensible]...
Price:
The Negroes here in New York then, the ones who were in the embryo stages years ago must be quite excited about it.
Goodman:
That’s true right here in New York City, you know, you have Frank Horne who used to be with the New York City Commission on Human Affairs, Human Rights, and you have Bill Trent who is Director of the United Negro College Fund. You have Moon who is Public Relations man for the National Office of the NAACP. Now, all of those persons and Ted Poston by the way.
Price:
Goodman:
Ted Poston with the New York Post. He was in Washington at the time. So two of these men were members of what they call then the Black Cabinet. That was Frank Horne and Bill Trent.
Price:
As long as I have you on the phone and reminiscing a little bit, let’s get right up to date, George. How about today? Your station is located right in the center of Harlem, I take it?
Goodman:
That’s true.
Price:
Up on Lenox Avenue there?
Goodman:
That’s right and I was out early this morning about three o’clock checking bus load after bus load of individuals who were leaving for Washington.
Price:
What are some of the reactions? Can you think of some?
Goodman:
Well, all of them were most enthusiastic. This is perhaps the most thrilling thing that’s happened to lots of people in their entire life to actually have a part in demonstrating for civil rights. And that was the current feeling.
Price:
I’ve always felt that, too, that the important thing is for the little man or the so-called unimportant mass to have a personal individual part in asking for civil rights.
Goodman:
That’s right but the next thing that stood out in their minds and their expressions is the fact that this was a demonstration of white and black people about a basic democratic principle and I think that’s wonderful.
Price:
Thank you very much. We’ve been speaking with George W. Goodman, Public Affairs Director of Negro station WLIB here in New York and we’ve been talking about some reactions up in Harlem and we’ve been talking also about an original demonstration twenty-one years ago in Washington, DC.
Goodman:
Thank you and goodbye.
Price:
Bye-bye now.
Geesey:
The crowd marching here in Washington today is demonstrating the need for jobs and freedom of the colored person, and strong support of churches and organized labor for the demonstration shows, according to A. Philip Randolph, Director of this national committee coordinating the March plans. The moral significance of the March of whites and blacks and of church leaders and labor groups marching together to stress the great struggle for human dignity taking place in America today.
We talked of Washington participation, too. These people are meeting on the Ellipse and a group so far hasn’t grown too large. But there’s been a committee form to encourage participation of at least 50,000 Washingtonians in this march today. The group was organized by local, civic, and religious leaders and called the District of Columbia Mobilization Committee. It includes subcommittees for government employee participation, religious participation, organization participation, and also publicity.
The group had hopes to contact every church in the Washington area in an attempt to get mass participation. Groups agreeing to march are being allowed to carry signs identifying themselves. And as this group leaves the Washington Monument grounds and proceeds west on Constitution Avenue along the march route and also along Independence Avenue we’ll have reporters along this group and we’ll have live coverage of what’s happening and we’ll be able to read some of these signs to you to see just what groups are participating in this march.
There have been many changes in the plan for today’s march but it certainly has complicated the broadcast and television media in trying to bring you this live coverage. Many of the changes were the result of time and logistical problems as the size of the expected number of marchers grew. One change that was given was the meeting in the morning of some 51 assembly places mainly churches. Of course, they did away with that before the demonstrations took place here because there just aren’t that many large groups for 51 people to meet in.
And so they changed their plans and are now moving the people from the train station and the buses are reporting to 15th and Constitution and dumping the people right onto the Washington Monument grounds where they are being entertained as you’ve heard so far by Peter, Paul and Mary and some of the other entertainers that we hope to be able to interview for you. Odetta is on the stage now. Let’s go back down to the Washington Monument stage. Reporter Malcolm Davis I think can bring us some of this entertainment right from the stage.
Edwards:
This is David Edwards on the stage filling in for Malcolm Davis. We’re presently being entertained by Odetta the world renowned Negro folk singer. She’s been singing “Oh, Freedom” one of the traditional songs of the movement. Let’s go to Odetta now on the stage.

Statement from a Mississippi Rep of the N.A.A.C.P.

Odetta Singing. Singing con’t.
Edwards:
This is David Edwards on the stage again. You’ve just heard a concert by Odetta, Peter, Paul and Mary, Josh White, Lonnie Satin and assorted other people. We’ve been hearing folk music by various people and now they’re being called back. Here comes Odetta back to the stage now. Ossie Davis has just called her back. She’s going to sing another number, and we’ll bring that to you immediately. Here’s Odetta.
Odetta singing. Singing con’t.
Edwards:
That was an encore with Odetta and that’s coming to ERN listeners from the stage at the base of the Washington Monument. And now we have an interview that was obtained for us, if I can put this on the air right now, George, if that’s all right from Al Hulsen.
Geesey:
Go right ahead.
Hulsen:
I’m speaking at the moment with Mr. Percy Lee Atkins of Clarksdale, Mississippi. He’s here representing the Clarksdale Chapter of the NAACP, is that right?
Atkins:
Right.
Hulsen:
Mr. Atkins, why have you come to Washington?
Atkins:
I came because we want our freedoms and we want our jobs and other things. What it’s going to take to have our freedom.
Hulsen:
What specifically do you mean when you say you want freedom?
Atkins:
Well, we want the opportunity to have the same things the white people have. Also, we would like to have the same schools that they would have just as good as theirs and we would like to have good jobs just the same as they do, and we want the same salary.
Hulsen:
For the person who has never lived in the South, how would you describe the difference between your life as a Negro and the life of your neighboring white man?
Atkins:
How do you have that now?
Hulsen:
Yes, for the person who has never lived in the South and who doesn’t really know what the conditions are, how would you explain the difference between the life of a Negro and the life of a white in Clarksdale for example?
Atkins:
Well, I would show how they would ...
Geesey:
Malcolm, we’re having trouble again with that particular tape machine. I suggest that that Al gets it fixed a little bit. It was a very interesting interview. I hope you can get that corrected because I’d like to hear that gentleman’s answer to the question that Al just posed to him. You know, in decades past Washington has been viewed as sort of a southern city but nevertheless provided a rather comfortable home for the Negro.
Since 1950, the city has made tremendous progress in removing racial barriers really far surpassing other southern cities. One fundamental reason is that Washington has changed from the label of a southern city to a northern oriented city in the area of handling its racial relations.
This process of desegregation is over really for the city, but the Negro still faces the problems of integration in a complex way, which excludes him from full participation really in the mainstream of American life. He’s excluded from the suburbs and parts of the city, which would allow him to escape the jammed slums that he now lives in. And in 1953, public accommodations in Washington were open to Negroes.
And in 1954, the schools were desegregated just to give you a few dates in relationship to the process of desegregation here in the Washington area. In comparative terms, Negroes in Washington are generally better educated. They’re better paid and they live in better housing than many other major cities in the nation. This live coverage on the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom Today is being furnished to you by member stations of the Educational Radio Network. One of our ERN reporters at Police Headquarters to keep tapping the information that is available there on the crowd movements back and forth. We have reporter Mike Rice and he has a report for us now.

The Crowd Gathers an Hour before the March

Rice:
Reporting from Washington Police Headquarters this is Michael Rice. Comprehensive Planning has paid off so far for Washington police. With over 40,000 persons already assembled on the grounds of the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial at last report and more arriving in droves according to officers on the scene. And various forces in the field have yet to encounter any major problems.
Traffic is moving smoothly even around Union Station where seventeen special trains have disgorged 13,000 people. 80 shuttle buses are picking up new arrivals and taking them to the March area. Spaces reserved for buses coming into the city are far from filled. Several hundred are here and parked.
The presence of Lincoln Rockwell and fifty of his cohorts has led to no incidents. Police are successfully containing them in a small area east of the Washington Monument. The health officers report no casualties. So the story from police headquarters is simply is all is well in Washington. This Michael Rice for the ERN returning you to George Geesey.
Geesey:
The police report now that about 50,000 people are in this assembly area. That’s about 25,000 more than we had, and certainly it’s far from the expected total of perhaps 200,000, but we’re still an hour away from when the March begins and the Monument ceremonies will then be over and we’ll be moving down to the Lincoln Memorial.
And, of course, some people are already gathering down there. Some people are coming directly to that point. So perhaps we will swell this crowd today to the expected 200,000. Down in the area of the Lincoln Memorial standing by where the March leaders have set up a press tent to carry out information to the media covering this today we have reporter Arnold Shaw. Let’s switch to him at this time.
Shaw:
From the news headquarters of the Lincoln Memorial this is Arnold Shaw. The press representatives are increasing in number here at the Lincoln Memorial but most are waiting for the planned activities to begin.
As you can probably hear some music is being fed over the public address system for the enjoyment of those assembled at the southern foot of the mall. Such a beautiful day that walking is most enjoyable and informative. In chatting with the people sitting on the grassy slopes of this park like area, some interesting observations can be made. Yes, there are people already here from the nations capitol itself. One gentleman stated that he was mainly impressed with the amount of police patrolling the area.
It appears provisions have been made for any emergency. Another native Washingtonian said that she felt that she was spending a morning in Athens, Greece many hundred years ago. Not just because of the architecture of the Lincoln Memorial, but the fact that hundreds and soon thousands of people would be gathered around this shrine in the voice of the people participating in the government of their nation.
Two young students just back from Europe said that they just happened to be in Washington, DC sightseeing. They thought it would be interesting to hear the speeches and enjoy the entertainment to be held here later. These students from Alabama made known their interest with a slightly reserved feeling of participation.
An elderly woman from New Jersey was most anticipatory about what is actually going to happen, and in her words, “I hope to God that everything remains as friendly and relaxed as it is right now.” Friendly and relaxed it is. To a couple from Miami Beach it is like a picnic. These two people traveled from Florida on trains especially to be here for the civil rights demonstration. The woman most excited about this day said that she hoped that year from now thousands of Americans would hold a similar demonstration right here in the nation’s capital for peace.
Once the day ends, the two plan to board a train and head back immediately to Florida. These are some comments of people from I chatted with here at the Lincoln Memorial. Some 500 members of civil rights groups have arrived by train from Cincinnati or Ohio under the direction of local NAACP President Bill Bowen. Members of NAACP, CORE and ALC, the Negro American Labor Council.
Many people sitting, picnicking along the Reflecting Pool steps below the Monument. A family visiting in DC from Millingsville, Georgia now at the Pool plans to join the March when it reaches the Monument. People with headbands, arm bands, buttons all around but in a happy holiday atmosphere.
Some people said that they had the day off anyway so they came down to see what was happening. Students from Winchester, Virginia and others from Warrenton, Virginia. We spoke with two ushers, part of a group of 3,000 members of the Inter-Denominational Church Ushers Association of the District of Columbia vicinity who will collect the pledges to be presented to Congress daily every day after the march.
The pledges will be circulated through the crowd, and this is what the pledge states. “Standing before the Lincoln Memorial on the 28th of August in the Centennial Year of Emancipation, I affirm my complete personal commitment to the struggle for jobs and freedom for all Americans. To fulfill that commitment, I pledge that I will not relax until victory is won.
I pledge that I will join and support all actions undertaken in good faith and in accord with the time honored Democratic tradition of non-violent protest, of peaceful assembly and petition and redress through the courts and the legislative process. I pledge to carry the message of the March to my friends and neighbors back home, and to arouse them to an equal commitment and an equal effort. I will march and I will write letters. I will demonstrate and I will vote. I will work to make sure that my voice and those of my brothers ring clear and determined from every corner of our land.
I pledge my heart and my mind and my body unequivocally and without regard to personal sacrifice to the achievement of social peace through social justice. This a pledge card being distributed to thousands of people here in the nation’s capitol today, and to be mailed daily to the Congressmen. These are some of the observations and comments from the news headquarters at the Lincoln Memorial here in Washington, DC. This is Arnold Shaw for the Educational Radio Network returning you to George Geesey.
Geesey:
Well, the police estimates now of this swelling crowd are up to 50,000 as we reported. At 9:00 a.m. this morning a very large group arrived at the terminal of the train station. And the usual procedure, of course, as we’ve explained is to get off the trains, go through the concourse and get on shuttle buses which will then go through town and end at 15th and Constitution, which is right beside the Washington Monument grounds.
Now this particular large group went to the buses, found out that they had to pay an addition fee to be transported and leaders there told them do not get on the buses but walk over to the Monument grounds and so they have. So this is one group that did not take advantage of the shuttle buses being provided here in the Washington area. A large group of buses has just left Baltimore, and this perhaps is the 459 odd buses, which are coming from the New York area. So they’re progressing very good onto the George Washington Parkway.
Forty-six cars have been impounded so far in the Washington area, cars which violated the no parking after 1:00 a.m. this morning. And, police have about twelve cranes cruising around the area where buses are to have their reserved parking. And so far some owners are going to have a little hard time finding their cars, but there is a restricted area set aside just for the impounded cars. So that’s where they’ll be.
Forty-six have been found so far to be violating what over a large part of Washington is a no parking area today. Martin Luther King and some of the leaders for this March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom have been at the capitol today. So far they’ve been talking with some of the Congressional leaders, which have been meeting with them. They saw the Honorable Everett Dirksen who is the Minority Leader of the Senate.
They’ve also talked this morning to the leader, the Majority Leader of the Senate, Mike Mansfield, and now they are going to talk to the Speaker of the House, Mr. McCormack and just about this time. And we’re not verified yet as to whether they have left. They’re to leave Capitol Hill and go to the Washington Monument Grounds.
There is lots of entertainment on the Washington stage still. Josh White is there right now, but rather than go back and bring you this particular coverage, we’d like to switch to one of our live remote sites, that site being the one beside the Reflecting Pool where Norman Prevatte is standing by with an interview.

Massachusetts Clergy Show Support for the March at the Reflecting Pool

Nossiter:
Here at the Reflecting Pool this is Cal Nossiter speaking with two of the delegates from Massachusetts. What is your name, please?
Wooten:
My name is Roger Wooten from Acton, Mass.
Lancier:
Dean Lancier form Acton, Mass.
Nossiter:
And you’re both clergymen?
Wooten:
That’s right.
Nossiter:
What made you come to Washington?
Wooten:
Well, we’re very much interested in supporting the civil rights movement, I think, Dean. Is that right?
Lancier:
Yes, that’s right. As I told our church this I believe in and, therefore, that’s why I’m here.
Nossiter:
What was the reaction of your parishioners?
Lancier:
Mixed.
Nossiter:
Very mixed?
Lancier:
Yes.
Nossiter:
Do you think any of them...This will be a church crisis in any way?
Lancier:
No, I don’t think so.
Wooten:
I don’t think it would be a church crisis. As a matter of fact, those folks who seem to be or have what you would call a mixed reaction, seem to feel it was the thing to do no matter what.
Nossiter:
Did any of your people come down with you?
Wooten:
None of mine did.
Lancier:
None of mine. There was another minister from town who came with us. His daughter came with him.
Nossiter:
When you go home will you talk about this to your churches?
Lancier:
Very much.
Wooten:
Oh, yes.
Nossiter:
You will?
Wooten:
Yes.
Nossiter:
And do you feel that through the churches a better understanding of civil rights can come about?
Wooten:
I would certainly hope so. One of the important things a church can do is work a ministry of reconciliation, and this is what we hope we can do here.
Nossiter:
Now Acton is a pretty small town in Massachusetts. Do you have any civil rights problem there?
Lancier:
It just started when we had a Negro family move in four houses up from us a month ago.
Nossiter:
Is that so, and how are they feeling?
Lancier:
This is the second family in town. Not too well at first but they are being accepted now.
Nossiter:
Do you think the March will help them in some way?
Lancier:
Indirectly and in the long run.
Nossiter:
Very good. Thank you very much, gentlemen.
Lancier:
You’re welcome.
Wooten:
Thank you.
Nossiter:
Back to George Geesey at WAMU.
Geesey:
That was not Norman Prevatte, but rather reporter Cal Nossiter who is at that same site located just at the corner of the Reflecting Pool, and hopefully at two o’clock this afternoon, they’ll be surrounded by people and we should be able to obtain a lot more of the interviews like Cal just furnished us.
Some more figures for you. One of the Deputy Chiefs today (indecipherable) of the First Division has announced that everything is running peacefully in his Zone 1, which is a sector of Washington being covered by these marchers today. And they also announced from the Police Department that a total of 3,500 box lunches and another 3,500 dinners have been prepared for the policemen who are working almost a 18-hour day today.
The only policeman not working are those who were on duty all night guarding a lot of the stand areas and were downtown. They went off duty about 5:00 a.m. this morning. They are being allowed to go home to get some sleep so they can come back on duty again tonight. Meanwhile, everybody else, with all police leaves cancelled, are on duty in the Washington area. Therefore, about 7,000 box lunches and dinners have been prepared. The cost to the Police Department, and I guess the government, would be over $5,000.
Speaking of prices, the Deputy Director of this March committee Bayard Rustin has said that his committee’s tentative budget for the March activities is over $75,000. Local groups supporting the March were asked to pay their own transportation here to Washington. But Mr. Rustin’s committee has allocated $15,000 of its budget for bringing the poor and jobless from the South to the March.
Hopefully we can interview some of these people to bring you the flavor of their feelings about coming to the next nation’s Capitol, what they see while they’re here. And then after this afternoon’s ceremonies we hope to bring you a lot of interviews with these people, and just how they are moved by what has happened today and how they feel and what will be done by them as they leave the Capitol to go back to their own area. I mentioned the name Bayard Rustin.
He’s the organizer of this civil rights demonstration. He’s about 53 years old. And Martin Luther King has called him a very brilliant, efficient, and dedicated organizer and one of the best and most persuasive interpreters of non-violence. Rustin organized the 1957 Prayer Pilgrimage and then the 1958 and ‘59 Youth Marches here in Washington for integrated schools.
So he has a long background of being able to organize people to get them to march for some sort of peaceful purpose. It’s Rustin’s belief, by the way, that the white people have a vested interested in seeing that the Negro does win full equality. No white man will have the complete freedom, he says, until the Negro has his, and that’s really why they’re here today marching in Washington.
Mr. Rustin also says that his March is more than a march of Negroes, it’s a march for all of society. And in the area of employment, if there are more jobs, he feels, Negroes and whites will soon be fighting over the few jobs left by automation. And that’s why the demonstration will support today, measures for full employment and for expanding economy.
In practical terms Bayard Rustin says Negroes must accomplish their goals through non-violence because we are he says a minority group trying to integrate with a majority and we can’t use guns in his terms. The only weapon according to Rustin is friendliness. And according to police, this is a very calm crowd today, and police experts say that everything is running peacefully And in their words it, it looks like a holiday festive mood on everybody’s part. It’s time for us now to pause in our live coverage from Washington to let the member stations of the Educational Radio Network bringing you this program identify themselves. This is the Educational Radio Network.
WGBH Station ID:
The implications of the Freedom March. At 9:00 this evening a special panel discussion moderated by Geoffrey Godsell, editorial writer for the Christian Science Monitor. This is WGBH FM 89.7 megacycles.
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