Dublin Core
Title
Box 7, Folder 17, Document 2
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION
1203 CITY HALL
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Staff Report on Vine City, October 22 ~ 23, 1967
[Reginald Carter]
It was reported by Atlanta's news media and by "Word of mouth" that
on Sunday, October 22, 1967, several residents of the Vine City
community had been arrested. One was "beaten" prior to his arrest.
I met and talked with residents of the community and interested
persons, and learned from Mrs, Betty Holland [a resident of 675
Magnolia. Street, SW., Ja5-2383] that the incident came as a result
of some men gambling in the area of Magnolia and Sunset, were
asked to move on by the police. The men responded to the police
order, but they did not move out of the area when asked to "move on".
Officer Phillips began to beat Mr. Patridge, and subsequently
knocked him out. Later other officers [who were ital joined
Officer Phillips in the beating. Mrs. Holland felt as though the
beatings were unnecessary since Mr. Partridge was hand-cuffed.
Several other men were arrested on this day, giving rise to tensions.
There were no further incidences on this evening.
On October 23, I received word that a meeting was going to be held at
the corner of Magnolia and Sunset that evening at 8:00 P.M. I visited
the area that evening to find no formal meeting in process, but that
what seemed like hundreds of people gathered in the street, not to
riot but to protest for the blight and maltreatment by the police in
their community. People burned trash in the street, broke in and
looted several neighborhood grocery stores. They sneered at policemen
and tried their patience. However the police, despite the acts of
protest, basically had the situations under control. Ater the second
store had been broken into and looted, Senator Leroy Johnson, Alderman
Q.V. Williamson, attempted to "restore order".
The crowd had assembled on the corner of Magnolia and Maple at the
request of the above mentioned persons. Order was being restored
and an appeal was being made to disperse. It was at this time that
Captain Little of the Atlanta Police Department came into the area
with armed policemen carrying riot guns, etc., and ordered the people
pff tje street. He threatened to arrest them if they did not obey.
The people ran in all directions screaming from fear of what may have
developed into a shooting melee. One man who was on crutches was
moving too slowly for the policemen and was nearly arrested, Tempers
were heightened, and screams and shouts were heard such as: "They
are always coming in making people get off the street"....."We can't
even hold a peaceful meeting"....and "Look, they always give the
white policemen the shot guns to kill us”.
Page 2 V. C. Report
10-22-23-1967
The policemen forced people off the streets, out of their yards,
off of their porches and into their homes by threatening to arrest
them. They stayed and patroled the area until early the next
morning without further incidence.
I talked with Mr. Agustus McWhorter, [ Butterball | amd Mr. Elvester
McGruder. Both these men were arrested on the first Sunday. Mr.
McWhorter said he was washing clothes at the Laundermat shortly
before he and the others were arrested on October 22nd. After
hearing that trouble was nearby, He went to assess the situation
and arrived in time to see police Officer Phillips beat Mr. Partridge
while handcuffed. He said he went to the police department to swear
out a complaint. He returned to the Vine City area to complete his
washing. As'he was about to leave the Laundromat to take his clothes
home, he was ordered by a policeman to move on. Attempting to ex-
plain that he was on his way home, Mr. McWhorter said he was placed
under arrest for "failure to move on", Mx, McGruder also said he
as on his way home when he was stopped by some policemen who questioned
his destination. After he explained he was on his way home the police-
men sent him in an opposite direction. He was subsequently arrested
by other policemen for "drunkeness" and "failure to move on". Mr.
McGruder said he had not had anything at all to drink.
On 11-7-67 the trial for Messers Agustus McWhorter [Butterball],
and Elvester McGruder, Mann Jordan, Henry Tucker, Milton Harold, and
Mr. Partridge was held in Police Court. The arresting officers were:
Rucker, Flagg, Phillips, Carlton and Weber. They charged that Mr.
Partridge resisted arrest, used vile language, failed to move on,
assualted and officer and violated the noise ordinance.
Agustus McWhorter and Elvester McGruder have had their cases held
over until November 21st. The other men were found guilty an all
counts and are now in the process of appealing their cases.
1203 CITY HALL
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Staff Report on Vine City, October 22 ~ 23, 1967
[Reginald Carter]
It was reported by Atlanta's news media and by "Word of mouth" that
on Sunday, October 22, 1967, several residents of the Vine City
community had been arrested. One was "beaten" prior to his arrest.
I met and talked with residents of the community and interested
persons, and learned from Mrs, Betty Holland [a resident of 675
Magnolia. Street, SW., Ja5-2383] that the incident came as a result
of some men gambling in the area of Magnolia and Sunset, were
asked to move on by the police. The men responded to the police
order, but they did not move out of the area when asked to "move on".
Officer Phillips began to beat Mr. Patridge, and subsequently
knocked him out. Later other officers [who were ital joined
Officer Phillips in the beating. Mrs. Holland felt as though the
beatings were unnecessary since Mr. Partridge was hand-cuffed.
Several other men were arrested on this day, giving rise to tensions.
There were no further incidences on this evening.
On October 23, I received word that a meeting was going to be held at
the corner of Magnolia and Sunset that evening at 8:00 P.M. I visited
the area that evening to find no formal meeting in process, but that
what seemed like hundreds of people gathered in the street, not to
riot but to protest for the blight and maltreatment by the police in
their community. People burned trash in the street, broke in and
looted several neighborhood grocery stores. They sneered at policemen
and tried their patience. However the police, despite the acts of
protest, basically had the situations under control. Ater the second
store had been broken into and looted, Senator Leroy Johnson, Alderman
Q.V. Williamson, attempted to "restore order".
The crowd had assembled on the corner of Magnolia and Maple at the
request of the above mentioned persons. Order was being restored
and an appeal was being made to disperse. It was at this time that
Captain Little of the Atlanta Police Department came into the area
with armed policemen carrying riot guns, etc., and ordered the people
pff tje street. He threatened to arrest them if they did not obey.
The people ran in all directions screaming from fear of what may have
developed into a shooting melee. One man who was on crutches was
moving too slowly for the policemen and was nearly arrested, Tempers
were heightened, and screams and shouts were heard such as: "They
are always coming in making people get off the street"....."We can't
even hold a peaceful meeting"....and "Look, they always give the
white policemen the shot guns to kill us”.
Page 2 V. C. Report
10-22-23-1967
The policemen forced people off the streets, out of their yards,
off of their porches and into their homes by threatening to arrest
them. They stayed and patroled the area until early the next
morning without further incidence.
I talked with Mr. Agustus McWhorter, [ Butterball | amd Mr. Elvester
McGruder. Both these men were arrested on the first Sunday. Mr.
McWhorter said he was washing clothes at the Laundermat shortly
before he and the others were arrested on October 22nd. After
hearing that trouble was nearby, He went to assess the situation
and arrived in time to see police Officer Phillips beat Mr. Partridge
while handcuffed. He said he went to the police department to swear
out a complaint. He returned to the Vine City area to complete his
washing. As'he was about to leave the Laundromat to take his clothes
home, he was ordered by a policeman to move on. Attempting to ex-
plain that he was on his way home, Mr. McWhorter said he was placed
under arrest for "failure to move on", Mx, McGruder also said he
as on his way home when he was stopped by some policemen who questioned
his destination. After he explained he was on his way home the police-
men sent him in an opposite direction. He was subsequently arrested
by other policemen for "drunkeness" and "failure to move on". Mr.
McGruder said he had not had anything at all to drink.
On 11-7-67 the trial for Messers Agustus McWhorter [Butterball],
and Elvester McGruder, Mann Jordan, Henry Tucker, Milton Harold, and
Mr. Partridge was held in Police Court. The arresting officers were:
Rucker, Flagg, Phillips, Carlton and Weber. They charged that Mr.
Partridge resisted arrest, used vile language, failed to move on,
assualted and officer and violated the noise ordinance.
Agustus McWhorter and Elvester McGruder have had their cases held
over until November 21st. The other men were found guilty an all
counts and are now in the process of appealing their cases.
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