National Equal Justice Award Dinner (NEJAD), 1993 - 5 of 10
Photograph
January 1, 1993

Cite this item
-
Press Releases, Loose Pages. NAACP Legal Defense Gains Freedom for Americus Four, 1963. c4184467-bd92-ee11-be37-6045bddb811f. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/ce852267-51d0-48e6-a114-21dbb85c1531/naacp-legal-defense-gains-freedom-for-americus-four. Accessed August 19, 2025.
Copied!
PRESS RELEASE NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND 10 COLUMBUS CIRCLE * NEWYORK19,N.Y. © JUdson 6-8397 DR. ALLAN KNIGHT CHALMERS JACK GREENBERG CONSTANCE BAKER MOTLEY President Director-Counsel Associate Counsel NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE GAINS FREEDOM FOR AMERICUS FOUR November 2, 1963 AMERICUS, Ga.--NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorneys won release here this week of four youths jailed since August 8th. Three of them faced the charge of insurrection, a capital offense in this state. The youths had been active in the drive to win voting rights and use of public accommodations for Negro citizens in this tension filled city. Jack Greenberg, Director-Counsel of the Legal Defense Fund, which was representing the youths in four simultaneous court actions at the time of their release here November lst, made the announce- ment, He said that a three-judge Federal District Court, sitting in Americus, enjoined prosecution of the charges of unlawful assembly and insurrection, ruling them unconstitutional. Mr. Greenberg also authorized dispatch of $12,000.00 bail bond money to Constance Baker Motley, Legal Defense Associate Counsel, who was on the scene. The students, Donald Harris, John Perdew, Ralph Allen and Thomas McDaniel went free, Legal Defense Fund attorneys C. B. King of Albany, Donald Hollowell of Atlanta, Mrs, Motley and Michael Meltsner of New York City, escorted the youths from jail. ~-30-- Editor's Note: Full story was released October 30, including comprehensive background chronology