From the archive: President acts to prevent more racial violence
The Federal Government, on orders from President Kennedy, has sent more than five hundred marshals into Alabama to prevent further outbreaks of racial violence against Negro citizens. Late yesterday afternoon the President said that he had been following with the greatest concern the outbreaks of violence in Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama. He called upon local authorities to exercise their authority to prevent further violence.
He asked that any person should refrain from any action which would in any way tend to provoke further outbreaks. He also instructed the Justice Department to take "all necessary steps" to deal with the racial violence in the State. The ­Attorney-General, Mr Robert Kennedy, later announced that he is sending specially authorised marshals into the area of Montgomery to assist state and local authorities in the protection of persons, property, and vehicles. He also directed a team of FBI agents to study the riots in Montgomery and Alabama to find out where the responsibility for these outrages should be placed.
Finally he asked the Federal Court in Montgomery to enjoin the Ku Klux Klan, the National States Rights Party, and certain individuals from interfering with "peaceful travel by buses". The Department of Justice has information that clansmen are concentrating their forces in the Montgomery area. The Federal officials, who will be wearing side-arms, will be directed by Mr White, the deputy Attorney-General.
Savage attacks
Yesterday's fighting in Montgomery was on so brutal a scale that it shocked officials in the Department of Justice who were aware of the explosive situation. In fact, for several days President Kennedy had tried in vain to reach Governor Patterson of Alabama by telephone to discuss the problem with him. Mr Robert Kennedy sent his personal assistant, Mr John ­Seigenthaler, to Alabama to review the situation. In yesterday's riot Mr Seigenthaler was knocked unconscious and savagely beaten when he tried to save a white girl from a pursuing mob. He was left lying on the roadside for some 25 minutes before police officers took him to a hospital. One of the white men on the bus, Mr James Swerg, was also attacked. He was knocked unconscious and, while he lay bleeding, other men jumped on his body and kicked his face.
Police Commissioner Sullivan was asked why an ambulance was not called. Without a smile, Mr Sullivan replied: "Every white ambulance in town reports their vehicles have broken down."