Pro-Segregationists Storm Capitol

From the Feb. 11, 1957, Nashville Banner

By Jack Setters

Rabid pro-segregationists from six Tennessee counties were buttonholing lawmakers and administration leaders at the State Capitol today, seeking a law they say would skirt the U. S. Supreme Court’s anti-segregation ruling.

But John Kasper, controversial spokesman for the Seaboard White Citizens Council, failed to put in an appearance after being rebuffed by the Tennessee Federation for Constitutional Government.

The pro-segregationists—totaling about 100—descended on the Capitol shortly after 10 a.m. today in motorcades from Memphis, Chattanooga and Knoxville. The groups were joined by sympathizers from Nashville, Murfreesboro and Anderson County.

Last Minute Effort

An effort for a last-minute conference with Gov. Frank Clement failed when the leaders of the various groups were told that the Governor was busy with previous commitments. 

The pro-segregationists had asked to see the Governor at 11 a.m. but were referred to the office of Glen Nicely, the Governor’s administrative assistant. The Governor’s secretary told representatives of the group that Nicely “assists the Governor in legislative matters.”

Members of the delegation who went immediately to Nicely’s office were: A. E. Wren of Memphis, who directed a motorcade of 12 cars to Nashville this morning; Sims Crownover and Thomas B. Gore, Nashville attorneys representing the Tennessee Federation; Jack Kershaw of Nashville, vice-president of the Federation, who gave Kasper the “brushoff” in a strongly worded statement Monday; L. V. DuBose of Nashville; Tom Brandon, Murfreesboro; Terry Chappin, Nashville; J. C. Jones, Nashville; W. A. (Bill) Brakebill, Anderson County: James A Carney, Nashville, and G. L. Dabney, Anderson County.

Brakebill is one of 16 Anderson Countians who were charged with contempt of court after a Baptist preacher was slugged in Clinton when he escorted a group of Negro students into integrated Clinton High School.

Mass Meeting

In a mass meeting of the pro-segregationists behind the State Capitol shortly before they began their “March on the Hill,” Crownover told the pro-segregationists they had “scored a victory just by being here today.”

The attorney accused Governor Clement of sponsoring a “weak” legislative bill “in an effort to rehabilitate himself so that he can run for the Senate.”

Crownover told the segregationists—some of whom carried colorful placards—that their job was to try to obtain a bill that would “fix it so no parents can be prosecuted for not sending their children to non-segregated schools.”

Funds Factor

He also called on them to support an education bill which would withhold all State School funds from any school district where white and Negro students fail to attend separate public schools.

Kershaw asserted that cutting off financial aid to integrated schools “will not close those schools but will keep them segregated. We don’t want to destroy education. We want to preserve it.”

Arthur Canada, head of the Chattanooga Society for the Preservation of Segregation who accused Governor Clement of “misleading the people of Tennessee,” claimed in a pre-march speech that he is in possession of petitions, bearing 60,000 names, calling for continued segregation of Tennessee schools.

Special Police

Special details of State highway patrolmen, some in civilian clothes, were stationed about the Capitol corridors early this morning in anticipation of the announced March on the Capitol by the pro-segregationists.

No disorders were reported although Senate Speaker Jared Maddux banned placard bearers from the Senate chamber.

The first contingent of the three-city motorcade containing 12 cars left Memphis in a pre-dawn move—and arrived here at 9 a.m.

The Memphis convoy bearing Confederate flags and including a sound truck blaring Dixie made its way to the State Capitol under escort of State, County and City police.

Point of the rendezvous was on Highway 79 at the intersection of Highway 100.

Trooper Escort

State Troopers escorted the Memphis caravan into the Capitol area to await similar groups from Knoxville and Chattanooga.

However, one caravan of Chattanoogans met the Memphis contingent upon its arrival and accompanied the west-state pro-segregationists to the Capitol.

Immediately upon joining the Knoxville and Chattanooga groups, the Memphians began circulating to members of [the] Senate and House of Representatives a copy of proposed legislation, described as an act to require the Commissioner of Education to withhold all State school funds for districts which integrate the public schools.

Kershaw was on hand to welcome the first arrivals.

“I thought it would be the polite thing to do,” Kershaw declared.

Strictly State

“This is a Tennessee rally for Tennesseans,” Kershaw added, “and neither Kasper nor anyone else from the outside has been invited. “As far as we are concerned, Kasper can go back to New Jersey or wherever he’s from.”

Kershaw and Wren termed the “march on the Capitol” a “spontaneous thing” which is not sponsored by any organization.

Cold Shoulder

In giving Kasper the cold shoulder after reports were circulated that he would join the Capitol march, Kershaw said his organization had never considered Kasper “with favor or disfavor.”

“We were interested only in his Constitutional rights,” Kershaw stated. “We were not interested in him as a person.”

Kasper is now under $10,000 bond awaiting results of an appeal from a one-year Federal prison sentence handed him in connection with the racial violence which followed integration of the high school at Clinton, Tenn.

Clinton Represented

The Clinton segregation move is still underway, and a number of Anderson Countians accompanied the Knoxville motorcade here today.

Kershaw today reiterated a statement he made during a speech Sept. 1 in Clinton.

“When the officials keep you from speaking…you are drifting toward Communism,” he declared.

Kershaw said he appeared in Clinton “at the invitation of Clinton citizens and the Anderson County judge—not as a pinch-hitter speaker for Kasper.”

(Tennessee State Library and Archives)

Editor’s note: This article appeared in the February 2014 issue of The Nashville Retrospect along with other stories from Nashville’s past, including: “Black Expo Stressing Continuing Progress” (1973); “Banner Article Reunites Mother And ‘Baby’ Son” (1933); and “A Pretty Young Girl Arrested By Police” (1908).