In this silent WSB newsfilm clip from July 27, 1962, a group of primarily African American students hold a "kneel-in" at Albany City Hall and demonstrate passive resistance as they are arrested by the police. The clip begins with small groups of students approaching city hall and kneeling in a line outside the building. The individuals include Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) members Charles Jones and Bill Hansen, and Albany resident Rutha Harris. With notes in his hand, Charles Jones leads the prayer. Albany police chief Laurie Pritchett attempts to direct the students to enter city hall; he begins tapping people on the shoulder when no one gets up. Although most of the students stand up and walk into the building, a few remain outside kneeling. These students are eventually carried inside on stretchers by police officers, who jostle them intentionally. Charles Jones and two other black students are treated this way, as is Bill Hansen, the only white student seen in the clip. Demonstrating passive resistance, the students submit to arrest without assisting the process in any way. Earlier that same day, althought not seen in this clip, local and national leaders had led a kneel-in requesting direct communication with the Albany Board of Commissioners. Pritchett informed the demonstrators that the next commission meeting was scheduled for August 7; he warned them that they had three minutes to leave or would be subject to arrest. Rather than leave, the participants in the kneel-in remained while Reverend Ralph D. Abernathy led them in prayer; the group was then arrested.

Title supplied by cataloger.

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 WSB-TV Newsfilm Collection.

1 clip (about 1 min.): black-and-white, silent ; 16 mm.

Original found in the WSB-TV newsfilm collection.

WSB-TV newsfilm clip of African American students holding a kneel-in at city hall in Albany, Georgia, 1962 July 27, WSB-TV newsfilm collection, reel 0770, 55:33/56:54, Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection, The University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Ga, as presented in the Digital Library of Georgia.

Forms part of: Civil Rights Digital Library.