In this WSB newsfilm clip from Atlanta, Georgia in January 1961, House of Representatives member Lucius Black of Webster County speaks to a reporter about a grant for students expelled from the University of Georgia, and representative Marvin Lester Summers of Crisp county condemns the Supreme Court for legislating from the bench.

The clip begins with a reporter interviewing representative Black about a House resolution to provide grants to students expelled from the University of Georgia for peaceful demonstrations. Black explains that the resolution would provide the tuition a student would have to pay to attend another school. He believes that the university was wrong in expelling students for peaceful demonstrations against segregation. After a January 11 over-time loss in a basketball game against Georgia Tech, a crowd gathered outside Charlayne Hunter's dormitory and began throwing things at the dormitory. The crowd was eventually dispersed through the use of tear gas, and some white students were expelled from the university for their involvement in the protest. Although the bill was read twice in the House of Representatives, the record does not indicate it was ever sent to the Senate.

Next, representative Marvin Lester Summers from Crisp County speaks to the House of Representatives. He declares that the United States Constitution is the law of the land, and asserts that there is a gap between the constitution and the United States Supreme Court. Summers proclaims that United States citizens will rectify the problem because they do not "stand quietly by while they are robbed of their last liberties." He reminds the audience that the Georgia legislature has previously denounced the Supreme Court's "illegal actions," demanding that "that tyrant sitting on that court be impeached." Summers reaffirms the legislature's previous position.

Two African American students who had filed a lawsuit for admittance to the University of Georgia were ordered admitted by federal judge William A. Bootle on January 6, 1961. The state of Georgia petitioned the Supreme Court for a reversal of the decision on January 10, but their petition was denied. Opinion of the forced integration varied among citizens and lawmakers in Georgia. After judge Bootle declared the 1956 appropriations law blocking the transfer of state funds to integrated institutions, Georgia governor Ernest Vandiver encouraged the state to move from a position of massive resistance to one of accepting integration.

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 2 min.): black-and-white, sound ; 16 mm.

Original found in the WSB-TV newsfilm collection.

WSB-TV newsfilm clip of Georgia House of Representatives member Lucius Black speaking to a reporter about proposed legislation granting financial aid to students expelled from the University of Georgia and of representative Marvin L. Summers condemning the United States Supreme Court for legislating from the bench in Athens, Georgia, 1961 January, WSB-TV newsfilm collection, reel 0970, 54:24/56:30, 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.