Letter, Jill Wakeman (Goodman) to friends; July 8, 1966

              Letter, Jill Wakeman (Goodman) to friends; July 8, 1966
Transcript

8 July 1966

dear Marlene, Richard, Mary Jo, Jo, Irv, Bill, Kenneth, Phil, Alice (et al) and FHC, Xerox and Robbie, Mrs. W.

Thought today I'd tell you a bit about local life. (It's now a steaming 96 degrees.) Mrs. Simms, the little lady I'm living with, is quite a gal. She is 69 and a real rebel! In 1964 she spent 7 days in jail for demonstrating in a voter-rights march. Bob Beech and 4 other northern white ministers here at that time led 200 Negroes around the courthouse. After the 1st day they were warned not to come back - the 2nd day 69 went back - including all the ministers and Mrs. Simms. They went to jail. The jail room consisted of concrete walls and floor, one filthy bathroom and one small window. This was in March of '64 and the weather wasn't warm. They were fed twice a day - cornbread and hot water! When they were released 7 days later, each had to post $500 bail. (The C.R. lawyers' [association] took care of the legal end and the charges were finally dismissed.) A year later, Mrs. S. made her