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Eye for an Eye: The Role of Armed Resistance ... - Freedom Archives

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<strong>The</strong> defacto ch<strong>an</strong>ge in the practice <strong>of</strong> SNCC membership on the question<br />

<strong>of</strong> armed self-defense was illustrated in a SNCC staff retreat at Wavel<strong>an</strong>d, Missis-<br />

sippi, in November 1964 . <strong>The</strong> purpose <strong>of</strong> this retreat was to evaluate SNCC's<br />

direction <strong>an</strong>d program. An import<strong>an</strong>t event occurred that reflected the new direc-<br />

tions in SNCC <strong>an</strong>d the overall Movement . Wavel<strong>an</strong>d is located near the Missis-<br />

sippi Gulf. <strong>The</strong> retreat was near the beach . Retreat particip<strong>an</strong>ts were alerted when<br />

they heard a low flying pl<strong>an</strong>e soaring near their facilities . Later that evening a<br />

vehicle drove near their meeting place <strong>an</strong>d a Molotov cocktail was thrown on a<br />

nearby pier. Suddenly several male members <strong>of</strong> SNCC r<strong>an</strong> from the meeting with<br />

arms, the nightriders were abducted <strong>an</strong>d released after a warning from the young<br />

freedom fighters . Young Lome Cress, a Chicago native <strong>an</strong>d SNCC staffer in<br />

McComb was surprised by the armed response from her comrades . Up until that<br />

day she believed she was the member <strong>of</strong> a nonviolent org<strong>an</strong>ization. She turned to<br />

Howard Zinn, a college pr<strong>of</strong>essor, histori<strong>an</strong>, <strong>an</strong>d advisor to SNCC <strong>an</strong>d stated "You<br />

have just witnessed the end <strong>of</strong> the nonviolent movement." 19<br />

1 . Form<strong>an</strong>, B1ackRevolutionaries , 354371 ; Carson, In Stru3--le. 96-98 ; Burner,<br />

GendyHe Shall Lead, 1 12-1 13,1 14-124 .<br />

2 . Carson, In Struggle . 77 .<br />

3 . Ibid, 98 ; Dennis interview with Dent.<br />

4 . Often Black workers, particularly domestics who had close proximity to the<br />

white power structure supplied in<strong>for</strong>mation about what segregationists were<br />

pl<strong>an</strong>ning to the Movement. This in<strong>for</strong>mal network was essential to the security<br />

apparatus <strong>of</strong> local community activists.

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