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

Meredith to "Ole Miss."
Because of his visible profile, Evers would not only need security on the
road, but would need protection while at his home in Jackson. A security network
was formed in the state capital to protect Evers and local NAACP leaders, includ
ing Sam Bailey and Robert T. Smith . Medgar was generally assigned three to
four men to watch his home and to travel with him . Bailey, who had been active
in the Jackson NAACP since the early 1940's, described the home protection .
Information came that there was the possibility of attack, security was organized
guard the homes of targeted individuals during the evenings . According to Bailey,
in order to conceal themselves, the "nightriders" raided during the evenings
"cause they wasn't coming in the daytime ." The armed security team would sit in
cars across the street from the home they were protecting while others sat on the
porch of the house . The armed watch would look particularly for "stray cars
coming ." Generally this would deter the invading terrorists who noticed the
presence of the guard . Over thirty years later Bailey reminisced "(T)hat white
man he wasn't gonna get no blood if he can help it, cause they know we would
shoot ." Special armed body guards were also organized to protect special guests
and NAACP leaders like Dr. Gloster Current, NAACP President; Roy Wilkins,
NAACP chairman ; Attorney Thurgood Marshall ; and entertainer and friend of the
Movement Lena Home .'
In addition to assistance from local NAACP members and supporters,
Evers was also prepared to defend his family and his home from violent racists .
He owned several guns and was often on alert at home . John Salter, a young
NAACP activist in the early 1960's, remembers coming to the Evers home in