Boycott Page #9

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about Gandhi. It's also about the teachings

of Jesus Christ. - Mass action and black social gospel, it's a new form of protest. I mean, it's--it's--

it's Negro. It's jazz. [chuckles] - Well, whatever it is, it's taken us all by surprise. - Might just take the whole

country by surprise. That's why I'm here. Reverend King,

I'm gonna be blunt. You're straying from

the principles of nonviolence. - In what way? - You're the leader

of a nonviolent movement, and yet you have guns

in your home and these armed guards

outside. - Let me ask you something,

Mr. Rustin. Would you risk your family

for a tactic? - Nonviolence is not a tactic. - Would you risk your family? - Nonviolence is an ideology;

it's a movement. - I have an obligation

to protect my family... - A way of life, a religion.

- And defend my home. - Well, the guns don't make me

feel any safer. - Look, the movement is

in its very early stages. And I hope with all my heart that, uh, it remains

peaceful, but... - Peaceful change is healing. - There is a very definite

possibility of violence. [dramatic music] - [humming] Oh, hey, Reverend.

I didn't know you were-- - After tonight, I want you to find

a safe place to put that. - But, boss... man: School officials

later suspended Autherine Lucy for her own safety

after she and her NAACP escorts were surrounded

by angry white students. Democratic presidential

candidate Adlai Stevenson, speaking to a Negro audience, suggested that

only gradual means would satisfactorily

settle the school's crisis and other problems

affecting equal rights for all Americans. More on that story later. man: And now the weather... - One Negro girl

admitted into a college. That's about as gradual

as you can get, I think. - They forgot the part where

they throw eggs at her. Rustin: Well, now you see. It's not just about

Montgomery anymore. And it's sure as hell not just about seats on the bus. - Bayard Rustin,

ladies and gentlemen. - It happens whenever

an oppressed group finds its voice. The white man...

[chuckles] Some white men are terrified

that if the Negro ever attains power,

he will act without pity to revenge the past. - Damn right. - We have to show them they have nothing to fear. - The bus company's hurting. They're on the verge

of bankruptcy and are now willing

to meet our demands, but the city won't let 'em. - We forgive everything. We have to bring the message

of nonviolent resistance to the rest of the South. Everything we've learned here,

we have to teach the nation. It's your responsibility. - There's also a rumor. The city might bring

indictments. - On what charge? - They dug up some old

Alabama antiboycott law. Lewis: We know the people here. We know they'll walk forever

if they have to. - You have got to stop thinking

about this as just a bus boycott. It's not! And you cannot win this fight unless there are similar

protests all over the South and similar protests

all over the nation. It is in your own

self-interest, your own. - Have you ever run

a bus boycott before? - Not buses, no. - Well, then why are you

lecturing these people? - The same principles

are at work. - What makes you think

they need outside advice? - And who might you be,

sir? - Emory Jackson, editor of "Birmingham World." - Well, welcome, brother. - I just want to talk to you

about your affiliations. - Well... That was a long time ago... Mr. Jackson. [dog barking] [tense music] [gun c*cks] [fire crackling] [dramatic music] [woman vocalizing] - You all right, E.D.? - Whoever did this,

I want to hurt. [fire crackling] I want to make

the bastards pay. - I understand that. - Reverend King,

I ain't like you. I am not like you. I am not a nonviolent person

by nature. Now, they've attacked

my home, and I want to strike back! I don't know if I can do this. We march and sing and plot and plan

and so they can blow up our homes. They blowed up your home too. - Y'all just gonna sit there. You see how they be? [somber music] - Brother Nixon, Hebrews 10:39 reads, "But we are not of those

that shrink back "unto destruction, "but of those who have faith

to the preservation of the spirit." I believe that. I'm sorry, E.D. - You know, I got no doubt

that man is a leader. I just don't know

where he's leading us. [all talking at once] Martin: We are Christian. If you must stone them,

stone them with forgiveness. If you must stone them, stone them with love.

man:
Amen. - Through these powers,

we will discover to our wayward brothers

the error of their ways. [all shouting agreement] This is and will ever be

a nonviolent movement. woman: Yeah.

woman:
All right. Take care, Ed. Folks up at Fisk want me

to come up there and speak. - I'm not surprised. - But I can't just,

uh, leave here and go up to Nashville. - Martin, it's time. You have to get the message out. If we don't go national,

you're going to lose locally. - Now, Coretta, it's another thing entirely for you and Yoki

to stay here alone while I'm in Nashville. - So we go to Atlanta,

and then what? [children giggling] Martin: Many of the Negroes

who joined the protest did not expect it

to last this long. When asked why,

they usually gave one of three answers: "I didn't expect Negroes

to stick to it." "I never thought Negroes

had the nerve." Or, "I thought the pressure

from the white folks would kill it

before it got started." Our nonviolent protest

in Montgomery is demonstrating to the Negro

that many of the stereotypes he has held about himself

and other Negroes are not valid. Something is happening

to the Negro. He's come to feel

that he is somebody. - Got rope, got trees. - These indictments

brought by the grand jury should not come as any surprise. We are committed to segregation, both by custom and by law, and we intend to maintain it and to protect our way of life! - They got arrest warrants

for everybody on the committee, all our organizers,

everyone in this room, 115 of us. It's the largest mass

indictment in Alabama history. - They're trying to chop

the head off the boycott. Abernathy:

So what's our response? Gray: Well, we don't really

have one yet. And Reverend King's

up in Nashville. - How long it's gonna be

till they start arresting us? - Soon as the deputies

get the warrants, so maybe tomorrow? - Probably is,

what I'd expect. - Well, I would prefer not to be

arrested at the college. Don't want my students

seeing that. Abernathy: All right,

I tell you what, brother. You figure out a way

to keep us all out of jail, we'll find a way

to get you some salvation. man: Ha-ha.

- Amen. - Yeah, I'm on my way now. But I'm gonna stop in Atlanta... - Hi, Reverend King. - To, uh, kiss Coretta

and the baby, and then I'll be there

tomorrow afternoon. Mm. Well, that seems to me

that's just a scare tactic, Rev. Yeah, it's the same old thing. Mm-hmm.

Well, you--you do that. You do that.

You keep it together. I'll see you tomorrow,

hear? Abernathy:
Make no mistake

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