NAACP Mass Meeting Remembered


Pictured are the honorees of the 50th Anniversary- Maggie Hightower, Elizabeth James, Magnolia Moxley, and Eloise Williams (absent). These women are members of Bolton St. and were present at the first mass meeting during the civil rights movement. Photo courtesy of Kim Gusby/WSAV TV
Pictured are the honorees of the 50th Anniversary- Maggie Hightower, Elizabeth James, Magnolia Moxley, and Eloise Williams (absent). These women are members of Bolton St. and were present at the first mass meeting during the civil rights movement. Photo courtesy of Kim Gusby/WSAV TV

The 50th Anniversary of the first mass meeting for integration in Savannah, Georgia, was held on Sunday March 21, at the Historic Bolton Street Missionary Baptist Church, 821 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

In a recent interview, Elizabeth Catherine Jackson, a participant in the first ‘s sit in gave her account of the activities as they unfolded. The first day of the sit in was scheduled to be held on Monday, March 14, 1960. Word of the sit-in leaked and the Police and Fire Dept. and the media were put on alert. The group under the leadership of W. W. Law postponed the sit-in. It was rescheduled to be held on Wednesday, March 16, 1960. Members of the NAACP Youth Council had been instructed by W. W. Law, Hosea Williams, Rev. and Mrs. L. Scott Stell and Harry Ladson. “We were given instructions on how to present ourselves as we browse and shopped at the various restaurants and lunch counters. After making a purchase in another area, we would then proceed to the lunch counter where we attempted to be served. None was served and three members of the group were arrested. The total idea of our actions were to conduct ourselves in a non-violent manner. The community was outraged. These events lead up to the the NAACP Mass Meeting which was held the following Sunday, March 20, 1960 at the Bolton Street Baptist Church. Rev. James Shipman, Pastor Emeritus, Bolton St., helped to organize this celebration.

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