Defense Fund Argues "Freedom Walker" Case

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- 891c26b4-bd92-ee11-be37-00224827e97b

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Press Releases, Loose Pages. Defense Fund Argues "Freedom Walker" Case, 1964. 891c26b4-bd92-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/4a7ceb1e-bf8f-497a-86df-5cbdeca18f9b/defense-fund-argues-freedom-walker-case. Accessed May 14, 2025.

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PRESS RELEASE 

NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND 
TOCOLUMBUS CIRCLE + NEW YORK19,N.Y. © JUdson 6-8397 

DR. ALLAN KNIGHT CHALMERS JACK GREENBERG. CONSTANCE BAKER MOTLEY 
President Director-Cownsel Associate Counsel 

DEFENSE FUND ARGUES 
“FREEDOM WALKER"CASE 

January 11, 1964 

NEW ORLEANS---Jack Greenberg, director-counsel of the NAACP Legal 

Defense Fund, came to the defense of the "Freedom Walkers" in the 

U.S. Court of Appeals here this week. 

The Defense Fund asked the Appeals: Court -to declare as error 

the Federal District Court's refusal to hear the "Freedom Walker's" 

claim that their constitutional rights were being infringed by 

Alabama, 

The "Freedom Walkers” began in Chattanooga, Tenn,.last May 

ist. They planned to march to Jackson, Mississippi, following the 

path of slain postman William Moore. 

Mr. Moore had attempted a one-man march, but was murdered near 

Gadsden, Alabama on April 23rd, 1963, 

On learning of "Walkers" plans, Al Lingo, Alabama's director of 

public safety, ordered arrest of the marchers, on charges of breach 

of the peace, if they crossed the Alabama state line. 

NAACP Legal Defense Fund Attorney Fred D. Gray, of Montgomery, 

sought a temporary restraining order and a preliminary and permanent 

injunction to prevent Alabama authorities from blocking the march, 

However, the Federal District Court refused to hear the 

marchers'.plea, 

They were arrested on May 3rd, when they crossed the Alabama 

line, and their organizations, the Congress of Racial Equality, Student 

Non-Violent Coordinating Committee and the NAACP were later enjoined, 

by an Alabama State Court, from acts "designed to consumate con- 

spiracies...." 

(more) 



Defense Fund Argues -2- 
"Freedom Walker"Case 

Mr. Greenberg, and other Defense Fund attorneys, argued in 

their brief in the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, that the 

“marchers were engaged in the exercise of constitutionally protected 

expression and were not subject to interference by state authorities 

seeking to prevent expression of their views." 

Messrs. Greenberg and Gray were joined by Defense Fund 

attorneys, Constance Baker Motley, Derrick A. Bell, Norman Amaker 

and Mel Zarr in handling the case. 

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Defense Fund Argues "Freedom Walker" Case

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