At the Newsstand: Read the stories that made headlines
3 St. Louis Religious Leaders Urge Johnson to Act in Selma
“A telegram signed by 3 St. Louis religious leaders was sent to President Lyndon B. Johnson today urging him ‘to act at once in behalf of justice in Selma, Alabama…”
Source: St. Louis Archdiocesan Archives
54 From Here Fly to Selma to Aid Marchers
“Fifty-four clergymen and lay leaders representing local Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant churches left St. Louis in two chartered planes today for Selma, Ala., where they will participate in civil rights marches…”
Source: St. Louis Archdiocesan Archives
Clergy Asks Johnson for Selma Justice
“Top religious leaders of this area called upon President Johnson Tuesday to intervene immediately in behalf of the minority in the civil rights strife in Alabama…”
Source: St. Louis Archdiocesan Archives
Halted by Police: St. Louis Nuns Lead Alabama Protest
“A group of St. Louisans returned from Selma, Ala., Wednesday night and told how it felt to fact a small army of helmeted troopers armed with big clubs…”
Source: St. Louis Archdiocesan Archives
Sing, Pray, and Stand in Street
“SELMA – More than 350 Negroes and white clergymen marched from a Church here Wednesday night and stood in the street singing and praying after police halted the procession. It was the first night march since Gov. George C. Wallace banned after-dark demonstrations following a violent outburst at nearby Marion.…”
Source: St. Louis Archdiocesan Archives
St. Louisans Lead March in Selma
“SELMA – The group, stirred by Sunday’s violent action when Alabama troopers turned back a Negro march from Selma to the State Capitol at Montgomery, had organized the flight to give support to the Negro cause here.…”
Source: St. Louis Archdiocesan Archives
Rally Planned Here Saturday for Marchers
“A sympathy rally in support of the Selma, Ala., Negro voter drive will be held at 2 pm Saturday on the steps of the new Federal Building. The St. Louis and St. Louis County chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of the Colored People are sponsoring the rally.…”
Source: St. Louis Archdiocesan Archives
20,000 Telephone Queries To Nuns in Rights March
“More than 20,000 listeners in 40 states responded yesterday to two special KMOX broadcasts in which two St. Louis nuns who participated in the freedom march in Selma, Ala., answered questions from callers.…”
Source: St. Louis Archdiocesan Archives
Is This America?
“While screams came from the Negroes, and rebel yells of hate – apparently from people who watched from the side of the road – came to our ears, tear gas bombs were tossed into the retreating, defeated marchers. You found yourself saying…this can’t be happening…today…in America.…”
Source: St. Louis Archdiocesan Archives
To Their Brothers’ Aid
“This spontaneous outpouring of concern for the people of Alabama – for no one went unless he volunteered – certainly stirred the conscience of St. Louis. All of us have heard the opinions of our neighbors, pro and con. But we feel that certain facts must be understood before rational discussion can take place.…”
Source: St. Louis Archdiocesan Archives
An Eyewitness Account: The Love and Hate that Dwell in Selma
By Fr. Edward O’Donnell
“Selma isn’t just an average town. As we drove into town past a historical marker that commemorated the Battle of Selma from Civil War days, we knew we were on a new battle ground. Our driver pointed out the sites: ‘Here’s where Dr. King was punched on the sidewalk.…”
Source: St. Louis Archdiocesan Archives
Church Leads Way in Selma
“The presence of priests and sisters continued for three consecutive weeks in this once obscure town which now stands as a symbol of an entire country’s struggle for human rights…”
Source: St. Louis Archdiocesan Archives
Same Fear on Both Sides in Selma
“A St. Louis psychiatrist’s personal reactions…”
Source: St. Louis Archdiocesan Archives
400 St. Louisans are Counted Among Alabama Marchers
“Among the thousands of white and Negro marchers who rallied at the Alabama State Capitol at Montgomery yesterday were more than 400 weary St. Louisans who were there because “they wanted to be counted.” They included Presbyterians and Jews, students and housewives, Catholic priests, nuns, and seminarians…”
Source: St. Louis Archdiocesan Archives
Love Was the Uniting Force On March To Alabama Capital
By Fr. Raymond Rustige
“I know that there are tens of thousands of experiences and impressions – some far more dramatic and dangerous, many deeper and more dynamic – but this is how the march from the City of St. Jude complex from the State Capitol of Montgomery looked to me, a 38-year old white midwestern diocesan priest…”
Source: St. Louis Archdiocesan Archives