Reporter: Abrams, Joel.

In this WSB newsfilm clip from June 2, 1968 reporter Joel Abrams interviews students protesting the suspension and probation of George Langworth and David Simpson, student leaders of an April demonstration for the rights of female students at the University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.

The clip beings with reporter Joel Abrams standing in front of a sign for "Persecution city." The sign is propped against a nearby tree. Abrams explains that fifteen students set up camp on Friday, May 31. The day before, George Langworth and David Simpson, leaders of the Students for a Democratic Society, were suspended for leading an April 10 demonstration seeking equality for female students at the University of Georgia. The camera shows a young man in a fraternity sweatshirt sleeping on the ground. Next, Abrams sits on a blanket and interviews a young man. A young woman sits between Abrams and the young man. While the young man speaks, a student in the background smokes a cigarette and then passes it to someone off-screen. The young man explains that the demonstrators want to show their support for the students prosecuted by the university. He asserts that the university has failed to show "sufficient evidence" in the case against the students. He further details that the demonstrators want the administration and other students to know that even though it is the end of the quarter, the demonstrations have not given up and are still willing to fight. Asked by Abrams if he feels persecuted, the young men asserts that he does because any of the students who demonstrated in April could have been suspended from the university.

After a break in the clip Abrams again stands near the sign for Persecution City. He reports that the demonstration will end the next day. According to Abrams, some people wonder why a news agency would report about such a mild demonstration after a year of student demonstrations. He ends by questioning "why shouldn't this kind of demonstration be sufficient to get results?"

On April 10, 1968 several hundred students participated in a demonstration at the University of Georgia administration building seeking equal rights for female students at the university. At the time, women had nightly curfew and a no-alcohol policy even for those legally old enough to drink. The march to the administration building became a sit-in lasting until April 12. On May 30 the school's administration suspended two of the demonstration's leaders, George Langworth and David Simpson. In response, members of the Students for a Democratic Society set up "Persecution City" on campus from May 31 until June 3.

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.): color, sound ; 16 mm.

Original found in the WSB-TV newsfilm collection.

WSB-TV newsfilm clip of students protesting the suspension and probation of leaders of a demonstration at the University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 1968 June 2, WSB-TV newsfilm collection, reel 1466, 00:00/01:52, 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.