Letter, Matthew Zwerling to Israel and Florence Zwerling; August 3, 1964
Transcript
Clarksdale, August 3
Dear Folks:
Just got back from the district caucus of the FDP. Good people, good project, good feeling. Seeing our work become live is nice.
I was arrested. (Not jailed - bond $25 paid on the spot). It was for speeding on the highway. I was speeding - it's a long story - we had been working in the surrounding county - Tunica - had been stopped by sheriff and highway patrol - mean-looking whites had circled our car. It was getting dark and we thought we might be being chased - decided risking a ticket was safer than risk of actually being chased - so I sped up. Trial is in a couple of days. At a staff meeting the group decided COFO would pay the fine (i.e., I wasn't being irresponsible.)
Project money is getting low. If you could channel some funds here it would be good - but we aren't in desperate shape.
I might need $20 more - the car repair came to $70 (almost had a cracked head - fixed just in time) - of which COFO is paying half.
The woman we are staying with stopped work at her cafe-installed refrigerator and stove in the house. We (Lew and I) are eating like kings. She's great, we really feel like part of a family - a great change from when we stayed with Mrs. P -.
I'm feeling fine.
Love and Freedom
Mat
