In this WALB newsfilm clip from July 21, 1961, Albany, Georgia mayor Asa D. Kelley speaks at a press conference held in his office where he asserts that the city's intent in obtaining a temporary federal injunction prohibiting civil rights movement leaders from leading demonstrations is to provide law-abiding citizens with additional protection against racial conflicts. Kelley emphasizes that the federal marshals present in Albany are only there to serve the temporary injunction to those named in the suit; the marshals will not affect the city's ability to enforce its own laws or the laws of the state. He repeatedly stresses that the restraining order will provide equal protection to law-abiding citizens of all races. The city views the court order as "another weapon to use against outside agitators" and a way to fulfill their responsibility to protect citizens from mob violence and preserve peace; he cites a similar suit that took place in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in which the city obtained a permanent injunction against the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) to halt racial agitation. He says the African American leadership bears the burden of the injunction, and that they must decide if they will ignore a lawful order of the United States district court in the same way they have disdained Albany city ordinances. Kelley ends by reading from the injunction, which says that the local and national leaders of the Albany Movement "threaten to continue and intensify their acts of mass picketing, demonstration, parades, boycotts, and riotous conduct which threatens the good order, public peace, and tranquility of the city of Albany and that said acts are in violation of Georgia laws." United States district court judge J. Robert Elliott signed the temporary injunction against the civil rights leaders in Albany on July 21, and scheduled a hearing for July 30 to consider making the order permanent. Chief federal appellate court judge Elbert P. Tuttle reversed the temporary restraining order against demonstrations on Tuesday, July 24, until the time that Judge Elliott could hold a hearing regarding the petition.

The Civil Rights Digital Library received support from a National Leadership Grant for Libraries awarded to the University of Georgia by the Institute of Museum and Library Services for digital conversion and description of the WALB News Film collection.

Title provided by cataloger.

1 clip (ca. 4 mins.) : b&w, sd. ; 16 mm.

Original found in the WALB newsfilm collection.

Cite as: WALB newsfilm clip of Asa D. Kelley explaining reason for obtaining a federal injunction against civil rights demonstrators in Albany, Georgia , 1961 July 21, Albany Movement compilation, WALB News Film collection, Albany Movement Compilation Roll 1 [Tape 1], Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Award Collection, The University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Ga., as presented in the Digital Library of Georgia.

Forms part of: Civil Rights Digital Library.