WSB-TV (Television station : Atlanta, Ga.)

Description

In this 1964 WSB-TV newsfilm clip from Atlanta, Georgia, Mayor Ivan Allen speaks to a crowd at a meeting about demonstrations by African Americans in Atlanta. The clip begins with a view of the Atlanta City Hall. Then, Allen is shown standing at a podium. He states that he called the meeting to find a solution to what he calls "a situation which threatens not only the good name but...the public safety" of Atlanta. The crowd is shown in front of Allen, and he asserts that the city has been extremely tolerant of African Americans demonstrating against segregation. He also claims that Atlanta is committed to offering freedom and equal rights to all citizens. Several different views of members of the crowd are shown, including a view of Lester Maddox sitting in the audience. Allen further asserts that Atlanta will remain active in working on "problems in racial relations." He then calls the group of African American demonstrators working in Atlanta an "irresponsible element" and declares that this group will not "undermine Atlanta's solid foundation of families and freedom."

Record Contributed By

New Georgia Encyclopedia

Record Harvested From

Digital Library of Georgia