In this WSB newsfilm clip from May 13, 1963, Alabama congressman George Huddleston, Jr., Birmingham-area representative, speaks to reporters from his office and suggests that Communist connections in the Civil Rights movement warrants congressional investigation into desegregation efforts in Birmingham, Alabama. Huddleston asserts that Jack O'Dell, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s executive assistant, "is a self-admitted Communist party member." He suggests that the House Un-American Activities Committee and the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee should examine "those racial disturbances which have occurred in our city" for "subversive background[s] or subversive motive[s]." King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) were assisted in their efforts by Jack O'Dell, who had attended Communist party meetings but never became a member of the Communist party. The allegation of "subversive activities" and ties to the Communist party were frequently used by segregationist leaders in an attempt to discredit King and the Civil Rights movement.

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, sound ; 16 mm.

Original found in the WSB-TV newsfilm collection.

WSB-TV newsfilm clip of George Huddleston, Jr., Alabama congressman, suggesting connections between communists and civil rights workers in Washington, D.C., 1963 May 13, WSB-TV newsfilm collection, reel 0784, 42:11/42:50, 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.