I '

:-,-. ,J. ·y;, NISSISSIPPJ:i F-R1EED0r1i_·_.<· DEr1bCBATIC_ P_,_A_"_-_RifiY_._::_-:·i ;i'l "'I _.,., J. r .· . '!'""=i f \ ,:, U f•, 'i { .f, \-~·

· ··• .. , · · . · :lD1fh7 ·lP ·y·nci-1 St'r 'e1Ef!"fi '· ·'·' "'" .,._ ·.· · ... l ....-· n ··:· · / ( ' . \ .. '- -( :l.J 1

, J. •• _ ' .-, ; ~· . r · f- n 1. ("'. t.' ~ -~~~ •·t· r~ ·t ' r. - ~ - ~'.·; l :·- 1.• ; : .·1 •. ~Jae.kso-n, ·T1iss-i-iss :f.pp1 ,, . '' . · ... : · .. ~ ... ~·.:. · ,. ,

·"... • - • ,!. • • ... ... , ,. -,' ( ~· f . ... 1 ) f 1 I • ' L ' 1 l I - \l J ~ • t ' • (, f "' -l ~ , ~ I ' ~' j (' i 1 1. ' 1 f ' J ~ ~1 c i l (~ 1 i "'~ ' --1.. J .l. \.. , ' ' ' -" '

1 • J ~

II~ : ~~~"~·s' . ,)~~· ~-th~ ·"De:e~o~~ent 0 f the IV(i's;s-i-s s]}pp( -·He;eidom~;JS~~m1~rdf.a,ti.G ' •..J • - • \.> • • f .f • ~ ,.. .-. , ~ I' ... (. ( ' "I '-I • l I I ,__ ' ', ,

. Par:tY , Jl.d· ~or., -Chall-enging . tner ·seat iri-8 --bf the· )1.e'e:p+ar :\1 1isAi .f'.S .lP,P~ l)~m?pr t.~c .,;P?r.~y ·at .t :ne · D.emocr~t-Yc_ :Na~t.idh~l ·, Oo_nv~·~~J i6J1 ~. · .·,.J.l ,'1, :;.;

' {. ~-) •. ; .~.~,· l .!. L·.:\r .-.: :-;.r:-.· _L __ ·~ ;--.) ~ ll..; r;-' ..• ..)..~ ,) .L ~.. ' ' . ' I·.,)' .. ( • ;, 0,_ ,i .i. -1 J .. i _.::i - • ( [ ~, ~ • • ' . of'

, ·. &. •.. nJ.ssi- ;Y.;3~P·J?i Derrroc:at ·~:c: ~ ·!'~r -~Y..· : a ~~- s9;~}T~·lJa,~:~? ' ~.ea;r~?~~:,·; 1 l.,, · ._,

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roes vrho w1sh to · part.u.t>l1pacte·:"-J-.n ·· ·tne ' party and· in state i tical affairs. · . , ... , .. -.

(0 • • i .1 • , ! • ~ .... ! ,~ , "< • '· ;. ~ '! : • I 1_ J •• I ( • ; .-! ' .

. :r TJ?~: rJ .~s:s~ s s ·~ ppL Detnc:ct·~~ic( ~~~t~ ' ~ap'.' 9.<im~:r·or :?:f.'; t, :~~ :. ~ ~a.te .· ;lf:glslatrve·, ~ executlve., ... q.nd •- JUd -1c1al br~l:'l9l;n"l .~ ; , iJ.? .,. 1 ,, ;·;"·'

1r:

, M~.s. sis~ 1 ppi. · . 4~1 f+9 J: -r ~en~-t -~r~ .:_: ?-~9 · ~ ai t ' 1Ju'_t', 9p~ ~. o;r_ ~ th~~; . ;: 122. representat~ves l are . Democrats~ ! All state execut1ve ,

r- r t-r .-. : qff.~c ~ai ~ :1 s~ch ·· as : governor ·~ . secr~ttirf .. or:_" st~ :t,~-: '·' ~t t?rri~y (Semeral are Democ~ats. "'!, •.;"' •,> ,. '· . -: ", ~._ , · · ,1 .. 1 · • ·"' •. · •.

~ .

.. : . ·· a~1 : · T.~Y j~~t8. · l~gjs sla~~re has - con s ~~~~~t.l(~pf1~ ~~.9,~:.~~-~P ··: ·. , , .. and .set reg 1strat1:on ·: standards wluch exclude Nee;roes

i i j fr 6 rn the r eG i s t rat i 0 n b 0 0 k s . . .. " ' .. . ' ( I ' Fi . ~- ; ·r b. The state executi-ve .~was erected to · off-ide1 1ort '-'tpe 'basis

I .AI ol '"a ''· c'am.pai'gn Which vJaS '1El>r"E£el'y di"r ·~_c£l~d: •··t\)'~Ei?s(-, .

·'

. r: keqpin£; N_et;l"Q:es: f.r.o·m · .. fee;i.'steriHe;··· ,'fct :v5,1t '~ '>': : . . , r . . · ,, ,, · " .c :. . The sta.te cj .~rcti~:i:~l system d'oe s· not e·i ve ·~!N''eE;r ¢,~s· .:, .:. ~:,

• ' j 'juq)_ct,al re:t)ef. in votiric; c_lises .- , ,·orify' :c'ase:~-.:. b~f:~t~? : to , the. fed:er,~l·· .. courts have: resurtea ··th B'rti' [fleg1sutr,_tf~ ~ p .f

' ) • · : · ' , , • ~ -~~ r ;- ,· '. • ~ ! . 1 li 1, · ; ' \ f · ~' . l 1 • • rel1ef for· Ns ~r·.oe uanYJ:licants· . · · · · ~ '' '" ' . ·· . .. 1

. d .. . Cour1 'ty .regJ;str~r.s:~ ar~ 1

eleated i··'t ol ' bff~i c·t:; ·~c: ' }.\!i ~( ' ~o~.nty; . ' • \ • .- \ • ' t ~: . ... •, f ( ,- . _, .

. rec;istra r? ar,e ,?e,mbcrats . ' ·:,. ·. ·,: ,_ · · ::· .. · :: ;.',."' ·· ·.-:< ·-,·

• ·- .I .

Any r egistered voter can vote in the Democr at ic pri~ary e;tnd . at tend. Democ-:ra t~c ·Party prec iil'c t : c ohven.t ~.on_ .. ~. · .. ·," ~T01U,? :

·e.xcl:u ~ i o.n :from · t~e · right . to · vo te ' meafis ·' ex'cl us i on f r om. · '( ""l1e Dem · at··· Pa t · _;· · !. t· • • • : r ·· {! If-

1'1 1 ~., ·. . qcrL 1 ~ , , r:·. y-; , _:·· . . : . .:'. : .,-_. _ .. ', ·.·.·

) ,· ;-~ " , . : I 4 '-•• \f ··.;· - . : .) : • 1 • -• · ,·: .,__;- ,·_ ~- ~ ~ : • ' • I ' • .:. • ,--~ { I '·'•,

·, 2 . , 'f'he ·.St$-te :Q,empcratic.' Conven~tion is '. be_in2; · held lr::t.- .t.F:~ . , Jc;-c~?on r-1. \.m~cipaL flud i t ori urn and the · Hy id e l~vr~· , H9Fel,. :.< .' · Bp,th. of tf;l,eS?· fi;lpil;i.i; ·ie·s 11are -~:ree;tee;:a t~d': ','· '· i , T . ~ . '. ' i -~ . t ~ I .·-.- .. . I l i ;._ . ' ~ : -1 ~~-- ~-, >. •, . r\

B ~ ·, The M~ ~ s 1s,s ippi i pe.t1J09tayio ; Party n,a s J t?~ s i ~t~t;I ~ly:· 9 ~yeo~~~ ; ::, ; t t~ ],. f, ·~ ~o the P\3rp§tua t;10n ·of .segrega t J., VD , ·· r ?J-Cl sm-; · and .~ tbEi- ,. ·

,, c?I?P , ~~ ~ ~,Rn ,of r~in,~~ 1 t.j:~s; · ·The . :par~y 1 ~a'~ m~qe.~~' it : ~ ~po$~.H\l.~ . , for NE?-<3roes o,f .the st.ate .:or wh1 te ''ipeoplG ' who · c~n;:;_l'der .C!>J,l ,, 1 ·,. ;

peo ~. le t o be ci tizeQ.s .·t o f ·ind it ·i n: trteir fri t eres't to -pa'rticf­pat ' in t he Democratic Par ty of ' the state as it i s now ..... •·r•

. ~? !]} s~ t,~_,teq • . .i i ') \ . . ' . ,, :.I _r : ; : . , . . . ·· ' .: L. :.· • • ; ·, ', .•. _..'! . ' . , 1 f' ") • , , I 1, I} ~ 1

' ' ' ' ( ;

"' . I1 .fs ~ · ~~1Si~pi .Ctt.izens ~ho ,Jp.r~. in 'siym:prithy wi'th tlie: g6h'ls ,' ' .. . , . ' ' -) J f p ... - • • ' • ( • ' • ! ·, ,. ' . ' " ' ., ' ' . ( ~ - l ( 1 " l ~ J • •

plQ. form , ElDd DatloDal ~and1dates of · tbe Natloh.al Democ·.r~t l,Q · ?ar y 'cannot support these goals , .plat fcrrm' and · ca:ricuciat'es ' ·'·

by becoming a pa~t ·or the Mississ ippi Democrat~c y~r~y~ · l. . Tl1e. russ issippi D.emoc;ratic •.P8;rty platf-orm is . i}r d ,.i,r,ect . ': · · , opiJb:sition to that of tbe ··nat:!,onal : pa'r'ty~ . ' .. : ··, .. ·. 2. · ·'·The JY!i:;> ,s:lpsipp~ D~m6pr,atic Party has· i h '. par'ty' li;e§irat

1l.i:re.

stated ·tha t ' it i .s not · e1 part , o.f the n~tiori'~l ,'par,tY:: .:, .... · J. Th'e Ni sst's sippi Detnocra.tic Party has h pt ' supported . . .

Democratic presidential candidat~s in the past and sho ws indications of refusing to support tl1em this election.

.. ·-- - ·-- ··-----·-- -·· ----.------·--....- ----- --- . --- -----J-. ....,.·- . . . - -· -·----~-- -·-···-·-·· -··- -~·--·- ·· ·

MDF p. 2 I I . The D v e 1 o IjffiEtH

1t i ~;f: · 2~-f1Y' ,J!It,~.s ~ ~~\~lP.JW~il. E.F:g,~_tl .. Q t1l -.Dam 'o cr at i c Panl t y

Becaus of tnese- congej2n_q;(p.nd: .. rc<i.9J1 ClfLfSJons , the Council of Fed Feder ated rganizati ons (!J;~c~qa;;I,;i-J~:L\.m. ,o.f_:,aJ:::t Gthe na tional and l

1

ocal

~.~:~t¢{1~~ . i ~. ~t1i.~!~!~~~"~~:!(~tr.~~~ .. ~~~~~n D:~~~.~~!ct~~~(~~t~;~~-{:~~d~&~~d~~L c}~'flJ~~..;~~'~, }}~~. ~~·?'~i}·~ 1~j{i,~ p·8:r t Yl : .:?~nsi ~ :;g ~.ve: i'I_~gir._9as·~ .an ! ~e xper iJe'trc er. ~'1 h J he pbl·i-=t n :Ht 'f." om-t .l.~n.~fcn .. ' they- b~v;e j)e-Qn1::..e.xcJJud~edJ. ;h TtiQ_,;s-L:par-t o/1 'w1:1:. '-l:·: ·lj't)e

' ;l } • J . \ l ~ ~::.) 'i' \;;, '...J -...../ . , .,. ' ... .1. ~ ........ v •' . c\ ..,.. .... _ _.. ~ . - .

open to ci r~~ris 6f both races, @ill en c our age poli ti cal p~~ti cipat i on ' • . ., ~ • IT\ i.,

on the_.. . .par, D. . .9 f _ .alJ,.~• , 1p.nd , :\;Li~ 1-\ :P9.:W:f •::l<r_rnt :.:tn: :t·kl;.e~: I)U!¥t·f'drm-:: ~a.nd fS\:igr!o r t.i the \) • '). I ~' \ ·'- - 'I')'"' .J. ~ . ... . i . • .~o.. (, J ·• -... ::> . -· - . ~ • ,-.. ••. ~ • ~ ..., · ;'

canQ. .i<.l,?;t-e;? :· ,f th!S ·:·liTB:~ i ,§>:D.C;ll:'I.Pe.rnSJ.PJi'.§:Jl'..iLcT'Bar.ty J'. ;;: .:: v·r '>;'l'•N ,,,:.)c 1 :y' ' 1 1 ~, ,;. ~) l.r ~:.~ ·"· '"- .. l •'-·' "· (_, "" ""·'I • ·~· ·' · . :-:-:"ffr~t'1[~ l.R~)i.J.LJ ·:.~~

,,. , ,..,d ,. R,E{,~~s~tr, f8'c~f'Rt;;, ,.2 b ,~Alm•r .. y·9t~~~ll. .$~H;~'?ci:nd evr7r.Y'': ~?,~7~ ty. ~~· ~' the [ sta te; - reg 1 strap f s :! i~\}t ~ ; \".f\~ l~f\ s~ ~ Ufh s ;l; ro:pl ;JA'··~ ~q;.: :v.e.vu:g~ ~?T, :!l:L .~:!?~\~ ~~eed 0 m Ree::,~ C~;}rFf,~ l Q ,,:-. f~)E'.~ , : fp£\S@@ ~_; o:g.,·: .t;~eTYO t 1~g app~ .::--ca.'t'~ ~:'l ::: ~·s ·~~ :' ll_l sever al N~f-J ~jJ::rt~~ .,~'t S~~~ :": _ r_ l~ 'R ~ :t-t§n}q.g~il! :t~s :t ·: w1l~ :be •' tal~p~ ·:r~d ;.: ~9~ -f~t:;lstrants; tne._ouly r~ uu:emen.t ,r i or: ··TE1tSlstratT0D ,1s ' that ·.! the · anpl1'can t be over 21 and a·' f'@s'i d ' i}:f ,. o { -tfie -~ state . ' over·,,'M10 '100P ' peol,S:te i: t'f~,r :F t?e ree;i stered in > to~ s r/!JC}.~ .. ,t:;rt J.J A~y~g~ .,w})o 2. ~s neg~~·~~~e~ J ~s t ~~~gf.~~e t6 v?~e in ~Q~-(~t-:~ed, <r,J:Il r£xmo~~~p.J.c J ?.a:rt,y : canv:~nt~:~n::; i ~nd- . ~rq ~ .. ~1$~ part 111 pa rty work.

~ =»~::-:-; [~"~.[,): · · L:-··f.:. : . _c ~~ -- ~r-~' .~.!

~II .. _ _,Gha~.:t;e .• ~~-flg_ · .. tf:l:e s; ;e:~~j,;nc;, ?:L ·Mis~ i!s:s.i:pt~·1 · ·D~.~:ee,;at;~s tb' t he National I:j_~mq .cn t:L c , ,Pa,r,ty , Con•Yi.~n_t ron n ::. 1 ~" • ' . . :. -· ':,: '- .. ; . ~· ''<

Tn'e11 Fre qqrrl ;:6~-rnoo;Pf~ trQ ;;-Beu~t.y Tr1a'~ tiee:rr::·c'Y:fiffe"Lia11';/ established . At a mee~tng. -A ·lft t2~ ·;t!J. jgckson:;~ ra,p.pr-o:iirricite.l ;/ -~ 2 -06 . . d~"fegaees eletted a , T,~ro.§ri'f~.Y, :;:;tE1·rte;:~xe_c,tJ;i:;:1-,v~e ; co~mm ·i:tt ·ee ><: jtr'hei 11-ehrfiStfrfrry Executive

~):; :;, ~, J . . ·~ i..~ ·~ ... .6.~ --~· , .t.. ~ .. -~ . . · . r. .... ·.:o- .--: •· ··L ,.. l ·· . -- . ---.. ~ - -·----..- · -- ~---

. J~QJJ1S"IT)_~;~-~~~Jrri · - ~ -~:+ - !B~ tJ?:-~~fR01}:Sri b:ili,~:·~ ;· for."- ':sn·per-v_r~irp1f ·t:n<~i- . P'~tTi-~e of mee~ ings througnout he state wh_1cl1 , ·vn1.J: paraJ:i,.eJ!·, "Che me'et'1ng13 tt1roush wh1ch ~he . rJ~gu.lp.r }:!a:r.t~y, ·s~l·~ct;s:~itsr 'candid'tt bEHr :.t ic{ ; the··Nb:tt onal Con vent i on. The~~e '"meet i c;·s···~Ti:J.J_ foll~w the ·patter,i:J · i:ftipli1'8:t~cf fn ' the Electi on Laws mf Mississ i pi as closely a s possible~ · . . .

, , ..•. :- .-\., ';i ·tr:r';·.;·:· )C] ~-,cl.t , , j drv · ~,/-, ·'_:-. :;., ·: ;,,~,--,.~,J_:::.' :;~'.f -~, 1 -:" \ ;~ , ~ +.-}1i s ' H~· ~~rr.1_,. J 9:-; Pf:.f9:?\inct m$:eti r1~·~ ~ - i~~~or:: j·~';-Y.:·~e~, (~ P:t~:·r?cted by .

anypn,e .. 1:~:-rhe .. 1 ~PJ~ _J ·9 .t:~n:; rceg;ts~t ~red : onJ .tne. :: .f~~ : r·.;·~t~.~~fl,~~/?n)?.?oks . . (They nesd not oe offlClD.J..ly rec;1stered v o ter's ·/ ~ s ·1nce -·111 many count1es no Negroes ha v been allowed to r errister at a ll.) Th .e~ pr_t;;_c-inct sneetin.C?· s will ,pele9 it fi~SJ.ega.te.sr t ;Q t theJ,Count)O Oonv·e'if{t'·i oris , ' ~ ~'l'r\t:;,re~· \:t~ l egates will be se~i'~~ t)ea. ,'t $'":.~tJ::ie·-' ,s'ta te Go nv:e.n t i (Yhi; ,-.,.LPr i b<r ·" 't EP~the' std.·t'e ~ co~ ven ti on ,

· ·1 • 1• • · · ~ t.. >- · · ·._, ..!. ·· · ' "- -... • ,;. :-- ' · • 1' . • -~ • ~ -._ . • ' - .- - "'1 J • - - r·~

the·se 'de leg" ·tes ~vi iLJ .J _me.~t.- by 6:G:lneres:s i Q)na·l J D·i strict' ca·ucus. At this Caucus nbo t t hEl.lf t he' 'de'lee;ates from_ the s~~,te to :t;qe :-· ~lf:t i &:~ p~l . s Convention . ~,I ilL .. be •" se±.eQted.; the , stat e {c Ex·edutive·· Committee .will be

-y·,::-at ,"'". .. /'v·-:-;: , · .!.\J.t-~·j~ ' Al, " . ~ ~ ~·' ,, ·~ t -. '. 1-•·-, .- ~ • :• o .,:,'\.-1 :\ i~j ·' r t.J.~::~,-~,j .(. •

cho ~f(~ , ·1, f1~ 2 u :. ;: ';rf! Ei SI( LIC!~l eg()}ile:.s .:: lAfl~l . t;~~n i~E} ~~~, 1)d, :the , .?, 1(~ l§h8S\~ven t1on, wh~r: \3: ;-HHt~ .!fs ~ ; o~ r:.t. ne ,- <;;tel ~~at~ s ~ to·. the _:N~ ~ xon/i l ' _! qoq y,;~.~ t :t:9;D ~,~r, 3:ll be sel ect.ed 1 ., : , hq . St.a te , .Exeeutr.J:r;re ·c d.mmllttee -Wlll1 'l::le ·r ·a f1f:1;ed , ,and the

I .I I•·· . --\ ) " ,- ~ j t 1,, .' .! '• l I '- ··'•·' ..\ - -~~ . < .,.. • • _.1

,...., ·1" ,, , . !:;• , ·· 1 ,·' ' , '"·) ' 1 : : , <

l'{att9.rt<'H C mmi,tt,ec;man i4l[.l:d! C:dtnrrlitt·ee.woman ···\ viTt ·'be·. el_'~c.ted . '. 1 . ... ~ -J .. ) .. · · ... : · .. :~( ~'. ·~ --~;:· ... ;·( ··'::.~~-. ~·~:J ;·;·t-,:; ~·j:j '\(• 1.t,j··L~ .. r~ :·.:~ ;~·--;r:-~~J· · ·:f·~,~.~- ;~ · ·,-~ .~- :~~ ~ :.·~~{:-~~\

These 'd '-: l'e-gafes -Hill t hen attend the National DeiTrOc"rritfc ··· Convention, ~There. :they lAiillcha~lenge th? cre~e~_t ia~.s ,o_ ,~ t ,h,e; : f.8;.E?J~flia2.~ ':l:?P:r:ty · · -s ;·,-L 'U8~~ AR~ .·. C_r~dE1~ .tp,<?lf? I. iOornm~rttei~~·:'1~:[!1 :,'a~~;i ·,6 .~ . .'~e~~ -~e~'Y.f7B ·;W:l).} , be cno.~~D~, ,. , , if~~ ; n ;~{Qper: :~J-lq~t.·-tetL t"he· rre,gula~r :Party1

• • '' · fh.er,tt_ ~tp.l\: f{e . 46

del'eg~~ ~~~~~~~. ~;~·, : ~;qt·~;~,)t~~~~;t. 1~~·~ i ;: ·;~: j ;, ·:·~, ;/':' :; ,i£ , , ', .. ·.., ·<:·;: .... ,.:; <;;;.'/ '.> :·,,-f Jn . . or:cre;· : t_o- t~. q-t ."itP.e rep.;u-1-i:w:, ~~pbi'rty, 'Nee;roe·s ··v-til l .. a,lso . attend the j'f' \, ,.~fl\' t \,o;l j,:l,., ~ .o.'. I "' 1 1.:-'~~ .,- ,j< o ',~·.·~· - "" •

pr evG'"l'nt:t rri et1h~?' :P[;;, t h!3 \ireg;ular.:.party ·v\1r9UG}1o~t, ~hJf -'-~t-atE;·-,: .•. f't .e.. d .i .s_cr.imi t:la.; . io.n , .tha-t :-i ·s· .sure 1N6 'o.C:btt:F'{ · especi'i:i:lly'- 'fn ' '.trH~ . .he.rd - core """' · !~ '·"· \ :-f ><'1l..;,J' l -· .J l:;:-.-._, .. ~ l.. .• ~ ,: . : -~ .-. -. --J !}' ,._ v.·i ::::-~ T area·~- ; 'W}f.~: ,.b~ L a,.n , 9-.~d~ i ti_ona:J.:.' pnrt : orf :th~ ·c?.a1~-~,D¥:~: , 9-.f.'C~~rp.&n t. .. . hese pr ec 1 nc~ ; \Q~<:,;JJ,lf,6S ,,' ,;J,), ;~ -~ ~;~-: ~-~r~ :~ ·~~'Bt/J.?,'~ -~ :'_, ;:, '.":-~ \ '·' ::-_ ': ~: :., .'[~~ -. !:.:' . .::':.l . · · ~ ·.•f f ~ ~:~ f:,c, ~- ;_,! -·~ .. -· .·:{ ·._-; J - 'In: 1 \ ' ~ .t

•.. - r ~ ' ,: ·' '· ·'! ·'· .J ·r ~: 1 1, ' ~-. . . , . 'f . ) .f. l j ~ ) :".; j -' ( ' : - • ...

I FACT SHEET HISSISSIPP FBE:EDOM D~OCHATIC PARTY - : CONGRESSIONAL CHALLENGE

THE MISSISSIP I FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY"-S decision to cha_J.l~~g~~J.~---~-~-~p.!:!K_9_f_. ·:· five unconsti tionally sele .cted representatives to the Congr ·.ss came- . in the wake of the refusa by : Herbert · Ladner, · Mississippi· Secretary o{. State:; :. t .cr : hav~ ) the names of FDP candidates placed on the state ·, ballot for ~ the ·.- :November.' 3rd · k1ec·t · .... ons. Petitions· bea- ing the 1,000 signatures from- r:egistered -voters::f'equ:iLNHi b!fJ Mis- · ·· sisippi law ·, .. ,ere ignored by the Secretary·~ of:• state'.; . ~ 1 "' • · ·' ' ' ""' ' : !' ·· s ,..,· _!!.' ... ; . f ' - . . ! • ' \ .~.·~~ ,. , , ~:~; ·;': .. ·: _·J·, -~ __ ;,.·

BASIS . OF THE- v LENGE · :·;i ~ > . •,. ·' · 1 '·· ~~ !_ ..... • .- .. ' .

T"ne MFDP~ s No ice or Cha.llenge shows that the political · process ~ of the State of Mississippi v ·elates the 14th amendment · ih that Negro citizens com1>rising some 42% of the voijing age population are systematically disenfranchised and deprived of their poli ical rights; it further shows that the MFDP has been subject to official inti idation and suppress~g~ ~~tiom _ptivat_¢ · an~ p_u..1:il~c sourc~s wi thl.n ·that ,, state. Again, the Notice of Challenge shows that the .State of Mississippi has been in contin a.l' ·violaiion-··ci· a federal· statute passed. ~in 1870 whi:ch stipiil'a..ted that Mississ· pi would be in admitted to representation in C'ongress on the con-di tfon that the then existirlg constYtut:ianal qualification to ·vot-e w'ould ·

" ·never be amen ·d ~or changed so as ·to · deprive any citizen o'f the right to vote" .

The political cui t of ltppe 400,000 votin 456,620 Negro there are cou eligible to

·.; . .\

ttructure of Mississippi· 'i~ ·ba'sed, in the words ·of the' Fifth' Cir­s, "on a system of steel hard segregation" which deprives over

·age Negroes of their· basic ri'ght · to a: bal1otc.c --;-()f :Mississippi8s · citizens of voting age, only 28,000 are currently registered; and ties all through the s:tate ··such ·, as Cl·ark cCounty, ·•vith 2, 988 Negroes te --where only one Negro has actually been registered.

The MFDP is n t merely challenging the individuals claiming to represent Missis­sippi, but it contends taat . the restricted political and electoral system in Mississippi h s effectively disqualified ·them· from the right to re:present MHfsis­,sippi ·in the · S Congress.

PROCEDURE OF

The challeng~ of the contested Congre~~me~ were filed on Dec. 5, 1964, in accor­dance ··with· Tft e 2 of the United States Code, Sec. 201, which outl i nes the exact steps ·to be fo lowed whenever the right to hold a seat in the Rouse of Representa­tives is ·bein5 ·ehallenged ..

The f()rmaL Not ·-ce of Challenge was delivered, personally and by mail, to the challeng·,= ~ · C ngressmen-elect and to the Clerk of the Hovse on December 5, 1964, pu~~tiant to Fe eral law.

The challenged persons then have 30 days to file their answers to the charges. The . contestant have 40 days, . beginning on the day answers are serve·d, to ' use federal subpoe a power to take testimony throughout the State of lhssissippi to support the ch rges of the challenges. This testimony will be taken at open, public liearingi • The subpoenas must be obeyed under penalty of contempt of court, and if : ocal federal judges refuse to issue subpoenas, immediate emer-gency appeals <an be taken to the hicher federal courts •

. _ The contestees then have 40 days to take testimony with the same rights~- Tne con~ testants then have 10 days to take rebuttal testimony. Then all evid(:nce is for­mally presented to the Clerk of the House and a decision is made as to how much of/ this record will be printBd by the public printer. The :printed record is give-n / to the House SubcomLit~ee cE :i;j_e .c ti ons and Privi'l. The contestan-ts then have 30 days to fLLE: theL:' tr-: e1', and thP ccon tAstee2 jC: d..1.ys _,_ A.nswer. At this point the entire challenge is pl .1.e;ed before the Subcomrd ttee on Eleotious and ?rivlleges , which has jurisdiction over the controversy . (0ver)

_ .. FAC.'l' ~·s.:S:EET, PAOE 2 . -·.. · . . -~..-. -··· -~-..- ,. ·•-"'··•'-"'• ,.-~o.-,~- -~~.l.,;.;o. , •• ~-~~ ........ ..,.,.,_. ·"" - ..... ~-».1...-..-H . . , '-'::0,.._,_, .... ._~ "''· ,:,.Tl~<·••r-l'IUk·~ ~>-'1 .-.-• .,.. ;11-'""-·'.,..,. ... , ........ "".;f'o·.,.,.~

THE FAIRNESS SOLUTIOl~ . : - ~ . l .:

::;-, .. ' ' . t· t. ~- .. .. On th~ op~ning day gfCongress, prior ; to the ~v'Je~:ring Jn of memb~:rs:-~lect, a~y Congr~ssman , ·. a .. a, member::-ele<;:i;, can ask that contes:te<;l ·members 1:Je : excused from taki~g .: th,e .oat . , _,and. :i-~.1 f~irA~§.s, _ J!lat }10 . C_9ggr~ssiTi9-n :from Mi,ssi~~.s:i:ppi be seate9. until such tim as the House \,ie9ides , the q.uest,ion,pf ;the ... c:lfa).lepge. · '.):'};ie ·-·; · .-Speaker asks t ose persons being challenged to step aside while the oath is administe·:red. The formal Fairness Resolution is then present.~<;l a:r: .. d vQted .upon • . The ::;uccess o fail· · of the Fairness Resolution has no be·ar1n1C·on-the· outcome~-

of · the · challen e IJroceed~ngs ou.tli:p.ed · on· ;the :fir,st page; · ;it only det.ermines , " ·,' Vl.lht-the r the ,Co agress;nen wilL-s~.t· eluTing the.•.ql).lrse oft;t:Pe" cba):!e~rige)~';'-'"' Sucp a. Pl'Os~clur.e gas p:recede~1.:t, as Ja;!;~ . a.s 196.1. , _1 .

~" . ' • • ·:_, ' :'.,·- . I • J •·· • j ~ .; ~ .· . . ~ -~·

A.t:~:;?.,0!B~I~3 . ;''I:S!t:.BJ:·K OF:, Tlffi , .ST_ATtJTOB.Y .8ElrLLE .. K1E . ·· ~ .; ~~-. ·-~ · .. :. ~ .• ... ~ ·.:t \ ... :~: ,: ·' J·-·. :-·i ., i • • . -< ''<i · :~ i ~ ~ ': ·. ~

Dec.4?1964 : ~, e forr.:al .chall~nge is. delive-red, ·-tcl"Mis'sU3s'ippr C.ongr~~ssmen. · ;: -~ """!" •

~ . d' • . ' ~ , . . • .

Jan.4,1965: F ·rst d.ay of Cong,r,ess. A,. Congress!'l).Jlll c hallenges the r:l,ght .. of ~hE:> c'. • .

• ' r!I ssissj..ppi repres~nil?-;tives _ to be .. sea;teP,, pending decision of. challenge.

Jan, _2-F'eb. 10: Gha1 lenge!'s u13e Federq.l su~opoena .powers to" i;f.l;):ce· .te~ti~ony >i .s .M.iss ·~·.' ~_.··-..

Feb.lO-March ~0: Challengetl repr:eE;er:-ta:tives ha,ve 40 ·days· to take testimony ·. ··~ .... : ; <I · ..•• ~ ' I '. ,'r •

March 20-~~arc . · 30: _challenger's .ha:ve ;lO day.s :for rebuttal· test-imony. . .• :· ~--

May 1-July '! ... ,_;

Challenge rs have 30 days to file their brief, and the contested re sentat ives have 30 days t .o answer • .

• ~-; . ;_ . ! . . '

. July .1,19.65: he challenge is p~ui; ·befq;re the SubcOlnr!li ttee on Elections. ,a,nd: Pri..;- . It will make a recommendation to tlee .. House< on the' challenge.

July, the entire Rouse will vote on the challenge.

BAJKGROU:ND ;· . ··-· -· --··-

. ~· t -~··t. - .- .~J ·- •-:~.""' • ' · .. ·. I --~ - '-- ·-·-· >

'::':1.''' ·.JD:P; was .stablished in Apr,i1; 1964. FoHow~_qg ~h<:: . rf3fusal of .. State off;icials - .t:; 1:; la0e .the J)P candi.da t .e s on the ballot 1 the party dec j_de.d .to r_uh ·a _paralleJ_~: 1

el nct il,n in w .ich all citizen s who met 14th An,end.me"l~ cri t8I ia and. des.irous .of t''

vr:. ;; i.n : wou: d have an opportunity to do so. The ballot :i.ncluded the Presidential cctr:d.idates ,of both major . parties, , a.s "well as the · ~D~-. -~~-~-:.~.~~~!.9~~-C:~d .;;!f:l~~~,!. __ <?P.E.~~pb I!s,lJ ots wtne . ~st ·from polling 'places in 53 of ·the stat0 1' s 82: counties; .while, .~·' ' ' 'ullr1 ergro·J.nd aLLots'' we re ma iled in fro~l those counti9s too, dangeroilS for · ·FDP ' worl ers to en er openly.

.--i' - •

President Joh. son received more thar1 63,000 tho r.-:":f);:;; ~ ~] ote. i\tiFDP car:;,did.a tes fo:r the

Hrs , F'l.nnie Lou .dEii:;;er Ers . Victoria Gary L~r s , .Annie Devine

:votes; · a , larger vote . than he _· didc• in three Congressional . seats~ .. ~: :.".'

2ndDistl'ict 33,000 ' ' j •• ~ ·

5th Di~trict 10,000 4th Dis~rict 6,000

1Phc ' ""'IlP ccc: ~And, tt:ui GhA 0r:;. ;r legal candid?..tes qualified to represent Missif!­sij;'>pi in the ~ onL:ress of thE- United State::: are the tl:.reE Congresswomen elected i n tb.c; F.2e edon~ e.:;,.ection.r;, :::ince t.iley. we r ;:.; th< only ·:mw:; 011en to all consti tu­tiona_;_ly qua 1 :ifi..e,l persons in Missj ssippi. thl f· rPc, ··-