Rights Attorneys Seek Selma Sheriff J. Clark

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Press Releases, Volume 2. Rights Attorneys Seek Selma Sheriff J. Clark, 1965. a83f1faf-b592-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/ff1e836c-4564-441f-9bc7-1c508cd832ac/rights-attorneys-seek-selma-sheriff-j-clark. Accessed August 19, 2025.

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10 Columbus Circle 
New York, N.Y. 10019 
JUdson 6-8397 

NAACP 

Piecal Defense and Educational Fund 
PRESS RELEASE 
President 

Dr. Allan Knight Chalmers FOR RELEASE 
Director-Counsel Tuesday, 

Jack Greenberg February 16, 1965 
Associate Counsel 

Constance Baker Motley 

"RIGHTS ATTORNEYS SEEK 
SELMA SHERIFF J. CLARK 

SELMA, ALA.---NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorneys continued their | 
Negro voter registration court battle this week against Selma 
Sheriff James Clark and, what they termed, his "run or arrest" 

tactics. 
The latest legal motion, accusing Sheriff Clark of "contempt 

of court", was prompted by the 24 mile "forced march" of more than 
180 Negro youngsters last week. 

The "forced march" was conducted by Sheriff Clark and a posse 
of 20 men. The demonstrators were protesting the slow pace at which 
Selma Negroes are registered to vote. 

In another legal action, Defense Fund attorneys secured a 
Federal order releasing from prison 26 Negroes arrested on charges 
of contempt for demonstrating at the Dallas County Courthouse in 
Selma. They were released after each posted $100 bond. 

Federal District Court Judge Daniel H. Thomas will hear a 
motion on a "Writ of Habeas Corpus" aimed at wiping out the charges 
against 26 demonstrators. 

Norman C. Amaker, NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney, said: 
“Although the first order only applies to a few of the many 
arrested, it will open the way for the release of other Negro 
demonstrators in Selma." 

Immediately, Legal Defense Fund Attorneys Peter Hall of 
Birmingham, Ala., Mr. Amaker, Charles H. Jones and Director-Counsel 
Jack Greenberg, all of New York City, entered a similar legal 
motion on behalf of 50 other Negro demonstrators arrested in this 
Alabama town. 

Meanwhile, the attorneys are still seeking to have Sheriff 
Clark imprisoned or fined, or both, for “willful and open contempt 
of the Federal Court's injunctive orders of January 23rd and 30th." 

In the injunction against Sheriff Clark, Federal Judge Thomas 
stated: "....Under the guise of enforcement there shall be no 
intimidation, harassment or the like of ...those legally 
encouraging tothers)to register to vote." 

Legal Defense Fund attorneys state that the Negro youngsters, 
who were forced to march,had "stood quietly outside the courthouse 
holding signs urging full and equal voting rights for Negroes. At 
no time were the demonstrators disorderly or unruly." 

"Yet", the attorneys contend, "Sheriff Clark and his men used 
night sticks and electric cattle prodders to force the demonstrators 
to continue at a rapid pace on a "forced march". 

The march was "an act of desperation borne of frustration," 
said Attorney Amaker, 

ely to sworn statements from two peteona involved in the 
"forced march", several of the younger children became sick and 

exhausted. 
No date has been set for Sheriff Clark to appear in Federal 

Court to defend himself against the Legal Defense Fund's charges of 

“contempt of court". 

=40= 

Jesse DeVore, Jr., Director of Public Information—Night Number 212 Riverside 9-8487 IH

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Rights Attorneys Seek Selma Sheriff J. Clark

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