1. I accept this honor for our lost ones,
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2. whose deaths pave our path.
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3. And for the 20 million
Negro men and women
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4. motivated by dignity
and a disdain for hopelessness.
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5. This isn't right.
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6. Corrie.
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7. This ain't right.
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8. What's that?
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9. This necktie. It's not right.
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10. Well, it's not a necktie, dear.
It's an ascot.
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11. Yes, but generally the same principles
should apply, shouldn't they?
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12. It's not right.
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13. It's not right, or you don't like it?
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14. I don't like how this looks.
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15. Looks distinguished and debonair to me.
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16. You know what I mean.
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17. Like we're living high on the hog.
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18. Dressed like this
while folks back home are...
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19. It's not right.
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20. Wait till the brothers back home
see me like this.
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21. They'll have a good laugh.
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22. Let them laugh.
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23. It's not a crime to be away
for a few days, Martin.
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24. It's nice being away, huh?
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25. Yeah. It really is.
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26. Look here.
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27. I'm gonna be a pastor somewhere small.
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28. College town.
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29. Lead a little church. Teach a class.
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30. Maybe the occasional
speaking engagement.
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31. And I'll pay all the bills for us,
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32. especially the mortgage
for our very own house.
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33. Perfect.
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34. You look handsome.
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35. Through it all,
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36. Martin Luther King has
spoken of his dream.
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37. One which we
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38. and many other people
around the world share.
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39. To this undeterred hero for justice,
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40. the Nobel Committee of Oslo, Norway,
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41. awards our 1964 Peace Prize.
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42. I accept this honor for our lost ones,
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43. whose deaths pave our path.
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44. I accept this honor for the more than
20 million American Negroes
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45. who are motivated by dignity.
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46. Together we believe that
what the illusion
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47. of supremacy has destroyed,
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48. the truth of equality can nourish.
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49. I promise you.
It ain't nothing to be scared of.
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50. It's quick. And the pastor
is right there next to you.
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51. Yeah, but the biggest thing
is getting your hair wet up.
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52. I got my hair pressed that same morning
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53. and it was wasted
as soon as I hit the water.
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54. I should have worn a swim cap
like Mama said.
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55. See, I asked my mama
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56. could she make my hair like
Coretta Scott King had hers
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57. at the Washington March.
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58. But she said that was too grown.
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59. Oh, I love her hair.
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60. I heard she don't even put rollers in it.
It's just like that.
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61. But I studied it. I know how she do it.
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62. See, she parts in the middle and then...
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63. Annie Lee Cooper!
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64. Get on up now. I ain't got all day.
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65. You work for Mr. Dunn
down at the rest home, ain't that right?
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66. Yes.
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67. Wonder what old Dunn'll say
when I tell him
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68. one of his gals is down here
stirring a fuss.
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69. I ain't stirring no fuss.
I'm just here trying to register to vote.
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70. It's all right this time.
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71. It's right when I say it's right.
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72. Recite the Constitution's preamble.
Know what a preamble is?
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73. "We the people of the United States,
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74. "in order to form a more perfect union,
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75. "establish justice,
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76. "ensure domestic tranquility,
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77. "provide for the common defense,
promote the general welfare..."
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78. How many county judges in Alabama?
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79. Sixty-seven.
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80. Name them.
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81. Aren't we done?
Are we not done with this?
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82. - Will this ever end?
- I don't know, Mr. President.
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83. A comprehensive plan
is already in place.
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84. The act was only passed six months ago.
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85. So hammer home that
impatience only hurts the overall cause.
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86. We're... We're getting there.
Just... Just keep reiterating the plan.
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87. No, he doesn't want reiteration.
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88. He wants something so he can say,
"Look, I told you I had a dream
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89. "and it's all coming goddamn true,
whether you like it or not!"
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90. That's what he wants.
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91. What he needs to do
is get on board with what we're doing
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92. instead of the other way around.
For once!
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93. Mr. President, Dr. King.
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94. Mr. President.
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95. Dr. King.
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96. Well, I'll tell you.
I'm a tall son-of-a-bitch,
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97. but this close to the new Nobel laureate
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98. and with all those other trinkets
you've been collecting lately,
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99. I feel tits-high to a puppy dog.
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100. Well, thank you, Mr. President.
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101. Mr. White.
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102. - Dr. King.
- All right.
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103. I'll tell you, ending segregation,
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104. proudest moment of my life
when I signed that '64 Act.
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105. Proudest moment of my life, I tell you.
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106. Now civil rights is a priority
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107. - of this administration as you know.
- Thank you.
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108. We're gonna face the challenge,
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109. or this country is
storing up a heap of trouble for itself.
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110. Now, seeing as I can't convince you to
work with my administration
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111. in an official capacity
inside the White House,
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112. I feel damn fortunate
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113. to have someone as statesmanlike as you
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114. leading the movement.
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115. And I want you to go on leading it.
No one else.
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116. Not one of these
militant Malcolm X types.
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117. So... I wanna help. Tell me how.
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118. Well, Mr. President,
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119. I'm here to speak
specifically about the denial
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120. of a basic American right
for the Negro citizen.
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121. The right to vote.
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122. Well... Technically...
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123. Technically, we already have it.
Yes, Mr. President.
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124. But, we both know in the South
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125. black voters are kept off the rolls
and out of the voting booths
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126. by systematic intimidation
and fear, Mr. President.
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127. Now, you asked how you can help.
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128. We want Federal legislation
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129. granting Negroes the right
to vote unencumbered.
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130. And we want Federal protocol eliminating
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131. the decades-long dismissal
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132. and illegal denial
of blacks seeking to vote.
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133. And we want
robust enforcement of that protocol.
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134. Well... That's fine.
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135. But... Most of the South
is still not desegregating.
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136. Let's not start another battle
when we haven't even won the first.
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137. And you know what
the next battle should be?
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138. The eradication of poverty.
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139. I'm calling it "The War on Poverty."
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140. It's a matter of political priorities.
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141. Poverty is going to be my focus at home
and I want you to help me with this.
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142. We can make big changes in these things
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143. for people of all colors.
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144. And I know that matters to you,
doesn't it?
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145. This voting thing
is just gonna have to wait.
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146. It...
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147. It can't wait, Mr. President.
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148. Well, why not?
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149. Because there have been thousands
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150. of racially motivated murders
in the South,
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151. including those four girls.
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152. Well, I know that...
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153. And you know the astounding fact
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154. that not one of these criminals
who murder us when and why they want
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155. has ever been convicted.
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156. Yeah, I know we have a lot
of work to do down there.
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157. Not one conviction because they
are protected by white officials
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158. chosen by an all-white electorate.
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159. And on the rare occasions
that they face trial,
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160. they are freed by all-white juries.
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161. All-white because
you can't serve on a jury
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162. unless you are registered to vote.
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163. Well, Dr. King, you've certainly given me
something to think about.
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164. But this administration is going to
set this aside for a while.
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165. Just for a while, you understand.
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166. Yes, Mr. President, I... I understand.
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167. Selma it is.
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168. Big speech lined up
for these folks tonight, Doc?
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169. We need to see what's what first,
Big Fellow.
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170. We're just here to test the waters.
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171. Oh, my Lord.
What you got us into, woman?
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172. We've got 128 miles
to come to our senses, gentlemen.
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173. Hush.
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174. This here is the place we need to be.
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175. This right here
is the next great battle.
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176. I can only imagine.
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177. Decent-looking place to die though.
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178. Ms. Nash.
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179. Mr. Bevel.
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180. Doc? This here is it. Selma's the place.
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181. A lot of groundwork has already
been laid by the people here.
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182. And they ready.
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183. - Sister Boynton.
- Mr. Orange.
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184. Good afternoon.
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185. Dr. King?
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186. May I introduce myself?
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187. Yeah, of course.
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188. Hey!
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189. It's okay. It's okay. I'm okay.
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190. This way, Dr. King.
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191. That white boy can hit.
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192. This place is perfect.
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193. What's the FBI's current information
on Martin Luther King?
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194. I heard he was assaulted in Selma.
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195. My information can be
summed up in a few words.
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196. King is a political
and moral degenerate.
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197. Well, you say that, J. Edgar.
I have to take it seriously.
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198. But if he's a degenerate,
what I do know is,
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199. he's a non-violent degenerate.
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200. And I want him to go on leading
the civil rights movement,
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201. not one of these bloodthirsty militants.
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202. What I need to know right now is
what's he about to do next?
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203. Mr. President,
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204. you know we can shut men with power down
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205. permanently and unequivocally.
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206. I'm very aware of that, Mr. Director.
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207. Well, if you prefer
a different approach,
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208. we can go with the wife.
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209. We know there's tension
in the home already.
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210. We can weaken the dynamic.
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211. Dismantle the family.
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212. Hello.
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213. You ain't got long.
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214. When the hearts of those Pickaninnies
of yours stop beating...
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215. Same thing?
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216. When are you all heading out?
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217. We're heading back to Selma at 5:00 a.m.
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218. It turned out to be
an ideal staging ground.
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219. There's a full couple of weeks planned.
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220. Quite a bit to be done.
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221. I see.
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222. That highway is nice now.
Get you there in a couple of hours.
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223. Good people in those parts though.
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224. Well...
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225. I'm worried about the ones
who ain't so good.
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226. This local Sheriff Jim Clark
is supposed to be bad business.
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227. Won't go down without a fight, they say.
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228. And since we don't fight...
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229. Well...
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230. As good a place to die as any, I guess.
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231. I wish you wouldn't talk like that.
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232. It just takes the edge off.
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233. You and your friends
can joke about that.
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234. I don't joke about that.
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235. You're right. I'm sorry.
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236. I'll put these things away
in your bag now.
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237. I didn't realize
you were leaving so early.
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238. Hello?
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239. Halie?
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240. Martin.
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241. I need to hear the Lord's voice.
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242. Surely, Martin. Surely.
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243. Precious Lord
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244. Take my hand
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245. Lead me home
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246. Let me stand
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247. I am tired
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248. I am weak
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249. I am worn
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250. Through the storm
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251. Through the night
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252. Lord, lead me on
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253. To the light
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254. - Hey!
- Hey!
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255. - Sully.
- Look at you.
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256. - Morning, Doctor.
- Good morning, Doctor.
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257. - Drive all right?
- Good and long.
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258. Good news is Richie Jean is in there.
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259. Oh, she's ready for you.
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260. Negro, that's all you had to say.
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261. Uncle Marty!
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262. There she is! There's our girl!
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263. Hey, Richie Jean!
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264. - Looking like her mom.
- You go play.
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265. - Hey!
- Hey, Ralphy.
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266. - How you doing?
- Hey!
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267. Good to see you, sweetheart.
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268. Hey, come over here.
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269. Oh, Lord, it's good to see this!
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270. Okay, now, I've got the grits
on the stove.
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271. How many we expecting today?
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272. Well, now, Sister Jackson.
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273. You know about our group,
the SCLC, right?
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274. The Southern Christian
Leadership Conference?
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275. A few of our top SCLC leaders
are with us this time
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276. since we're going to be here
a little longer than expected.
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277. Now, this here's Reverend C.T. Vivian.
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278. He coordinates all the SCLC branches.
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279. Welcome. Nice to meet you.
Welcome, welcome.
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280. This is Reverend James Bevel.
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281. - How you doing, ma'am?
- I'm well. Thank you.
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282. This here is James Orange.
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283. Oh, this is a big one.
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284. I don't know if I've got enough
to feed you.
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285. Well, let's find out. How about that?
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286. Hey!
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287. Now, you got two of them named James.
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288. - Oh, you can call me Jim, Sister.
- And Orange is fine with me, ma'am.
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289. Or Big Fellow!
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290. All right. Well, this is fine with me.
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291. Mrs. Jackson. Hosea Williams.
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292. Or Castro!
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293. Oh, yeah, that's a long story.
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294. Those grits, they need some stirring.
Mind?
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295. You put your foot in it now.
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296. Ain't you supposed to be on a diet?
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297. Somebody call Juanita.
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298. - There's a phone!
- Hey, get off that phone.
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299. Juanita?
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300. Don't do it, Doc. Don't do it...
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301. Turning in, Doc. You okay?
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302. Yes, sir. Good night to you.
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303. I wanted to tell you that
the students are in town.
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304. Local students?
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305. Oh, no.
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306. The Student Non-Violent
Coordinating Committee.
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307. Okay. Our young friends at SNCC.
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308. Good to know.
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309. You the one told them to organize.
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310. Took it to heart.
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311. Don't be surprised
if they don't give us grief tomorrow.
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312. Town folk may be happy to see us.
But SNCC?
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313. They feel we're in their territory.
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314. They're young and full of spirit.
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315. Not a bad thing.
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316. It'll sort out.
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317. Good night.
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318. Good night.
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319. "Boycotting the buses in Montgomery.
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320. "Segregation in Birmingham."
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321. Boycotting the buses in Montgomery.
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322. Segregation in Birmingham.
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323. Now? Voting in Selma.
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324. One struggle ends just to go
right to the next and the next.
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325. If you think of it that way,
it's a hard road.
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326. But I don't think of it that way.
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327. I think of these efforts as one effort.
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328. And that one effort is for our life.
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329. Our life as a community.
Our life as a nation.
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330. For our lives.
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331. We can do this.
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332. We must do this!
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333. We see children
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334. become victims of one
of the most vicious crimes
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335. ever perpetrated against humanity
within the walls of their own church!
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336. They are sainted now.
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337. They are the sainted ones
in this quest for freedom.
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338. And they speak to us still.
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339. They say to us, to all of us,
all colors and creeds,
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340. that we must do this.
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341. They say to us that it is unacceptable
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342. for more than 50% of Selma to be Negro
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343. and yet less than 2% of Negroes here
being able to vote
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344. and determine their own destiny
as human beings.
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345. They say to us that
the local white leadership
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346. use their power to
keep us away from the ballot box
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347. and keep us voiceless.
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348. As long as I am unable to exercise
my constitutional right to vote,
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349. I do not have command of my own life.
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350. I cannot determine my own destiny
for it is determined for me
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351. by people who would rather
see me suffer than succeed.
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352. Those that have gone before us say,
"No more!"
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353. No more! No more!
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354. No more!
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355. That means protest, that means march,
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356. that means disturb the peace,
that means jail,
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357. that means risk! And that is hard!
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358. We will not wait any longer.
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359. Give us the vote!
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360. That's right! No more!
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361. We're not asking. We're demanding.
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362. Give us the vote!
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363. Give us the vote!
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364. Dr. King.
Roy Reed of The New York Times.
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365. Yes. Hello to you. How are you?
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366. I'm well, sir. Thank you for asking.
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367. Dr. King, are you truly non-violent
if you are provoking violence, sir?
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368. We are here,
using our very bodies in protest
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369. - to say to those who deny us...
- Dr. King. Dr. King.
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370. Pleasure, sir.
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371. that we will no longer let them
use their billy clubs
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372. in dark corners and halls of power.
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373. We make them do it
in the glaring light of day, Mr. Reed.
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374. Is SNCC standing with us
on this or not, gentlemen?
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375. You want us to bring our people in,
but you're not giving anything in return.
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376. Now we are asking
for some kind of commitment here.
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377. Respectfully speaking, of course,
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378. we've been handling
the voter registration
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379. in this town now for two years.
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380. Well, you haven't gotten very far,
have you?
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381. Well, maybe not, Reverend.
But we're still here.
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382. Meaning what?
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383. This time next month, you won't be!
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384. - That's insanity!
- Just like you left Albany.
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385. Those people are pathetic
down there now.
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386. Like they daddy left home!
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387. What we're trying
to explain is that in Albany you all...
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388. You know what I think?
Maybe we should just leave Selma...
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389. Now! Leave it to these two.
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390. Come back in another two years
and see how much further you got!
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391. - Sounds just fine to me.
- That's enough.
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392. Enough of this now.
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393. I haven't the time for this.
None of us got the time for this.
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394. John.
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395. James.
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396. The way our organization works
is straightforward.
Copy !req
397. We negotiate. We demonstrate. We resist.
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398. And on our best days, our adversary
helps the matter by making a mistake.
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399. Now, we were in Albany for nine months
and we made a lot of mistakes.
Copy !req
400. But their sheriff, Laurie Pritchett,
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401. he never made a mistake.
Copy !req
402. Kept his cool,
kept arresting us in a humane way,
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403. carried people to
the jail-wagons on stretchers.
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404. Day in, day out.
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405. There was no drama.
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406. You mean there was no cameras.
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407. Exactly.
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408. Now I know, we all understand,
that you young people
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409. believe in working
in the community long-term.
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410. Doing the good work
to raise black consciousness.
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411. It's good grassroots work.
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412. I can't tell you
how much we admire that.
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413. But what we do
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414. is negotiate,
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415. demonstrate,
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416. resist.
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417. And a big part of that
Copy !req
418. is raising white consciousness.
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419. And in particular the consciousness
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420. of whichever white man
happens to be sitting
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421. in the Oval Office.
Copy !req
422. Right now, Johnson has other fish to fry
and he'll ignore us if he can.
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423. The only way to stop him doing that
Copy !req
424. is by being on the front page
of the national press every morning
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425. and by being on the TV news every night.
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426. And that requires
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427. drama.
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428. Now...
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429. John.
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430. James.
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431. Answer me one question.
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432. I've been told the sheriff in this town
isn't like Laurie Pritchett in Albany.
Copy !req
433. He's a big ignorant bully
like Bull Connor in Birmingham.
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434. Well, you tell me. You know Selma.
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435. You know Sheriff Jim Clark.
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436. Is he Laurie Pritchett?
Or is he Bull Connor?
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437. He's Bull Connor.
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438. - Bingo!
- Good.
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439. That's good.
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440. But it gets better.
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441. See, Clark doesn't control the streets
like Connor did in Birmingham.
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442. Clark's the County Sheriff,
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443. and all he controls in Selma
is the County Courthouse.
Copy !req
444. So relatively speaking,
Copy !req
445. we have clear avenues of approach
to a defined battle zone.
Copy !req
446. In the courthouse
sits the heart of the matter,
Copy !req
447. the voter registration office.
Copy !req
448. Now this is an exceptional circumstance.
Copy !req
449. See, in Albany, there were
no clearly defined battle zones.
Copy !req
450. The issue was segregation,
and segregation was everywhere.
Copy !req
451. In Selma, we can concentrate
our actions on one building.
Copy !req
452. A citadel, defended by fanatics.
Copy !req
453. The Selma Courthouse.
Copy !req
454. A perfect stage.
Copy !req
455. Y'all deliberately
causing an obstruction!
Copy !req
456. You don't disperse,
you're gonna be arrested.
Copy !req
457. I promise you!
Copy !req
458. Sheriff Clark,
Copy !req
459. we're trying to gain access
to the registration office.
Copy !req
460. Which is our legal right.
Copy !req
461. There's too many of you.
And you know damn well there is!
Copy !req
462. Now, y'all just gonna have
to wait at the rear!
Copy !req
463. No, Sheriff Clark.
Copy !req
464. We're going in the front
and we're gonna wait right here.
Copy !req
465. Segregation is now illegal
in this country, sir.
Copy !req
466. Get out, nigger.
Copy !req
467. - Come on.
- I'm trying.
Copy !req
468. Kneel down, Daddy.
Copy !req
469. Come on.
Copy !req
470. Keep this sidewalk clear. Clear a path!
Copy !req
471. Get out of the way! Get out of the way!
Copy !req
472. Get the hell out of the way!
Copy !req
473. Keep the sidewalk clear!
Copy !req
474. I said keep it clear!
Copy !req
475. Okay. We about to sit him down.
He can't sit.
Copy !req
476. Then he needs to learn.
Copy !req
477. - He gonna sit.
- Sit down, God damn it!
Copy !req
478. Hey, hey! Pa? Pa?
Copy !req
479. Daddy.
Copy !req
480. I just told you he can't sit.
Copy !req
481. What do we got here?
Copy !req
482. What's going on here, boy?
What we got here? What we got here?
Copy !req
483. - Jimmie! Sit down!
- No, Mama, I'm sick of this.
Copy !req
484. - Jimmie!
- Don't do it.
Copy !req
485. - Do you have a problem, boy?
- I'm sick of this! I just told you...
Copy !req
486. What'd you think, boy? What'd you think?
Copy !req
487. What the fuck are you thinking?
Copy !req
488. Get that nigger woman!
Copy !req
489. Kill that nigger bitch!
Copy !req
490. Get your hands off of me!
Copy !req
491. We will not tolerate
a bunch of nigra agitators
Copy !req
492. attempting to orchestrate
a disturbance in this state.
Copy !req
493. Not as long as I'm governor.
Copy !req
494. Now, I stand here today
Copy !req
495. in the cradle of the Confederacy
Copy !req
496. to remind its people
of our Founding Fathers'
Copy !req
497. goals of duty.
Copy !req
498. Goals long since forgotten
by progressives and liberals
Copy !req
499. in favor of what they call
a changing world.
Copy !req
500. They seek to make us one mongrel unit.
Copy !req
501. Instead of allowing each race to flourish
from its separate racial station
Copy !req
502. as has been the standard
for generations now.
Copy !req
503. Good morning, Mr. President.
Copy !req
504. Their changing world
Copy !req
505. is sickening the balance
of the Southland.
Copy !req
506. Now...
Copy !req
507. I pledged to stand up
for Alabama when I campaigned
Copy !req
508. and the people elected me
on that pledge,
Copy !req
509. and that is exactly what I intend to do.
Copy !req
510. Johnson'll flinch.
Copy !req
511. I'm tired, Ralphy.
Copy !req
512. Tiring of this.
Copy !req
513. Eyes on the prize, Martin.
Copy !req
514. Yeah, but what is the prize, friend?
Copy !req
515. We fight to have a seat
at whatever table we want.
Copy !req
516. How does it help a black man
to be able to eat at a lunch counter
Copy !req
517. if he doesn't earn enough
to buy the burger?
Copy !req
518. Or worse yet, can't even...
Copy !req
519. Can't even read the menu
Copy !req
520. 'cause there was no Negro school
where he's from.
Copy !req
521. What is that?
Copy !req
522. That equality?
Copy !req
523. Amen.
Copy !req
524. And what about in our minds?
Copy !req
525. Equality in the black psyche.
Look at these men.
Copy !req
526. Beaten and broken down for generations.
Copy !req
527. Deciding to demand more?
Copy !req
528. What happens when a man stands up
and says enough is enough?
Copy !req
529. Look at Medgar.
Copy !req
530. Murdered the man in his own driveway.
Copy !req
531. Kids and wife right there
inside the house.
Copy !req
532. George and Herbert Lee, Lamar Smith.
Copy !req
533. A man stands up, only to be struck down.
Copy !req
534. And what happens to the people he led?
Copy !req
535. What are we doing, Ralphy?
Copy !req
536. We take it piece by piece.
Copy !req
537. Like we been doing.
Copy !req
538. We build the path as we can.
Copy !req
539. Rock by rock.
Copy !req
540. This cell is probably bugged.
Copy !req
541. It probably is.
Copy !req
542. Oh, Lord.
Copy !req
543. They're gonna ruin me
so they can ruin this movement.
Copy !req
544. They are.
Copy !req
545. "Look at the birds of the air,
Copy !req
546. "that they do not sow, nor reap,
nor gather into barns,
Copy !req
547. "and yet your Heavenly Father
doth feed them.
Copy !req
548. "Are you not worth much more than they?
Copy !req
549. "And who of you by being worried
Copy !req
550. "can add a single hour to his life?"
Copy !req
551. Matthew 6, verse 27.
Copy !req
552. All right.
Copy !req
553. Yes, sir.
Copy !req
554. What? Where did you hear that?
Copy !req
555. I overheard them talking
about him coming in this evening.
Copy !req
556. Overheard us?
Copy !req
557. I'm learning about this just like you.
We didn't do this.
Copy !req
558. That Negro can't be talking about that
Copy !req
559. "by any means necessary" madness
with these people.
Copy !req
560. They about to bust as it is.
Copy !req
561. He's on his way here, right?
Copy !req
562. So we gotta figure this out.
Right and fast.
Copy !req
563. He ain't on his way. He here.
Copy !req
564. Holy shit.
Copy !req
565. Are you all right?
Copy !req
566. I wish I had more time
to prepare is all.
Copy !req
567. I want to do this kind of thing
whenever possible.
Copy !req
568. But I don't get to do it enough
to feel entirely comfortable.
Copy !req
569. I prefer to be prepared.
Copy !req
570. Yes, I understand that.
Copy !req
571. I admire you. I do.
Copy !req
572. Sometimes I wish
I were more out there in the trenches.
Copy !req
573. You do more than you know, Mrs. King.
Copy !req
574. I'll tell you what I know to be true.
Copy !req
575. It helps me in times
when I'm feeling unsure.
Copy !req
576. If you'd like.
Copy !req
577. Please do, Mrs. Boynton.
Copy !req
578. I know that we are descendants
of a mighty people,
Copy !req
579. who gave civilization to the world.
Copy !req
580. People who survived
the hulls of slave ships
Copy !req
581. across vast oceans.
Copy !req
582. People who innovate and create and love
Copy !req
583. despite pressures
and tortures unimaginable.
Copy !req
584. They are in our bloodstream.
Copy !req
585. Pumping our hearts every second.
Copy !req
586. They've prepared you.
Copy !req
587. You are already prepared.
Copy !req
588. Mrs. King, I mean no disrespect.
Copy !req
589. I come with great respect
for your husband.
Copy !req
590. I have no army behind me anymore.
Copy !req
591. I have myself and the truth.
Copy !req
592. That is all I stand on today.
Copy !req
593. You've said disrespectful things
in the past, Minister.
Copy !req
594. So you'll understand
why there is some alarm here tonight.
Copy !req
595. I do. I understand that.
Copy !req
596. Your husband and I,
we do not see exactly eye-to-eye
Copy !req
597. on how to achieve progress
for the black man.
Copy !req
598. And yes, I have been piercing
in my critiques of non-violence.
Copy !req
599. But because we don't agree, Mrs. King,
Copy !req
600. does not mean that I'm the enemy.
Copy !req
601. What do you intend to say
to these people then, sir?
Copy !req
602. A lot of work has been done here,
Copy !req
603. and I don't intend to
see it undone tonight.
Copy !req
604. Let's just say,
my eyes see in a new way.
Copy !req
605. But your local sheriff here?
He doesn't know that.
Copy !req
606. So allow me to be the alternative
to your husband.
Copy !req
607. The alternative that scares them so much
Copy !req
608. they turn to Dr. King in refuge.
Copy !req
609. Let my being here, Mrs. King,
represent the factions
Copy !req
610. that will come if they don't
give the good reverend
Copy !req
611. what he's asking for and soon.
Copy !req
612. Do you know what he has said
about us in the past, Coretta?
Copy !req
613. He called us "ignorant Negro preachers."
Copy !req
614. Called me a modern day Uncle Tom.
Copy !req
615. Said on national television
that the white man pays me
Copy !req
616. to keep Negroes defenseless.
Copy !req
617. The white man pays me!
Copy !req
618. How could you allow it?
Copy !req
619. It wasn't like that this time, Martin.
I'm telling you...
Copy !req
620. He spoke with some of the words
he's used before,
Copy !req
621. but it wasn't aimed at you.
Copy !req
622. It was...
Copy !req
623. It had more to do with helping us.
Copy !req
624. Not that you need his help.
I'm just telling you how it was.
Copy !req
625. This movement, our movement,
Copy !req
626. has been the one
that has moved the needle.
Copy !req
627. Our movement changes laws
and day-to-day life for our people.
Copy !req
628. But what has he changed?
Copy !req
629. Actually changed?
Copy !req
630. You don't sound like yourself.
You sound tired.
Copy !req
631. And you sound enamored.
Copy !req
632. I didn't mean that.
Copy !req
633. Corrie.
Copy !req
634. Coretta.
Copy !req
635. I didn't mean that.
Copy !req
636. I'm tired.
Copy !req
637. You're right.
Copy !req
638. Rest then.
Copy !req
639. Rest tonight, Martin.
Copy !req
640. This is not what I want to hear.
Copy !req
641. How in Christ's sake does
Malcolm X slip into my state,
Copy !req
642. meet with the wife of the other one,
Copy !req
643. and give an actual speech
to these nigras
Copy !req
644. who are already riled up enough?
Copy !req
645. I mean, how does that happen,
Colonel Lingo?
Copy !req
646. Governor...
Copy !req
647. Is every spook militant in existence
gonna pay us a visit?
Copy !req
648. Do you know what this means?
Copy !req
649. Johnson is going to get jumpy.
Copy !req
650. King and X together is sending him
through the cotton-pickin' stratosphere.
Copy !req
651. And pictures of nigras
getting beat in the street
Copy !req
652. - doesn't help the matter.
- Governor...
Copy !req
653. Now I can't make a move
against that backwoods,
Copy !req
654. white trash Sheriff Clark 'cause
that'll be seen as I'm helping King.
Copy !req
655. But somebody got to
get Jim Clark under control.
Copy !req
656. Election year is coming up
Copy !req
657. and this black voting business
won't abide.
Copy !req
658. I mean, what's not clear about that?
Copy !req
659. Look, George, I'm telling you,
Copy !req
660. if the Lord Jesus and Elvis Presley
come visiting and they said,
Copy !req
661. "Jim, now, we need you to
treat them niggers nice."
Copy !req
662. Jim Clark would beat the shit
out of the pair of them,
Copy !req
663. then throw them in jail.
Copy !req
664. Jesus H. Christ.
Copy !req
665. Jim's a good old boy,
he's a friend of mine.
Copy !req
666. Jim Clark just ain't that scary.
Copy !req
667. Now he's playing into their hands.
Copy !req
668. Now...
Copy !req
669. If you want fear,
Copy !req
670. you need dominance in Selma.
Copy !req
671. Hoover picked up some intel
about a night march.
Copy !req
672. Wasn't announced.
Copy !req
673. It's some locals outside of King's group.
Unofficial, they called it.
Copy !req
674. Supposed to happen tomorrow night
once King leaves jail.
Copy !req
675. Going to some bleeding heart fundraiser
in California.
Copy !req
676. So...
Copy !req
677. King's out of town.
Copy !req
678. Fewer cameras.
Copy !req
679. And at night.
Copy !req
680. Find a reason to send us in there.
Copy !req
681. Let's scare some real sense
into them black bastards.
Copy !req
682. Y'all move back.
Copy !req
683. Move back now. Get back.
Copy !req
684. Go back to your homes now.
Copy !req
685. Stop! Leave him be!
Copy !req
686. Mama, come on!
Copy !req
687. Mama, come on!
Copy !req
688. We gotta keep moving. Come on.
Copy !req
689. This way, this way.
Copy !req
690. Leave him alone.
Copy !req
691. It's all right.
Copy !req
692. It's gonna be all right. Okay?
Copy !req
693. Act like you're...
Copy !req
694. Act like you're reading your menu. Okay?
Copy !req
695. It's okay.
Copy !req
696. Pops...
Copy !req
697. It's all right, Mama.
It's gonna be cool.
Copy !req
698. It's okay, it's okay.
Copy !req
699. Hey! Hey...
Copy !req
700. No, get off of him! Just get off of him!
Copy !req
701. Get off of him! No!
Copy !req
702. No! Get off of him!
Copy !req
703. Stop it! No, no, no!
Copy !req
704. Stop it!
Copy !req
705. Help me.
Copy !req
706. Help me.
Copy !req
707. Jimmie.
Copy !req
708. Jimmie. Jimmie. Jimmie.
Copy !req
709. Help me.
Copy !req
710. Sir?
Copy !req
711. Dr. King.
Copy !req
712. There are no words to soothe you,
Mr. Lee.
Copy !req
713. There are no words.
Copy !req
714. But I can tell you one thing
for certain.
Copy !req
715. God was the first to cry.
Copy !req
716. Yes.
Copy !req
717. He was the first to cry for your boy.
Copy !req
718. Yes. I believe that.
Copy !req
719. Is your daughter...
Copy !req
720. Is Jimmie Lee's mother here, Mr. Lee?
Copy !req
721. No, she... She couldn't make it.
Copy !req
722. May I ask your age, sir?
Copy !req
723. Well, I... I got 82 years.
Copy !req
724. 1883.
Copy !req
725. Right.
Copy !req
726. Yeah. Jimmie...
Copy !req
727. He born in '38.
Copy !req
728. He a Army man.
Copy !req
729. I mean, he was... Was an Army man.
Copy !req
730. In the Army a spell.
Copy !req
731. He say, "Pa, you gonna vote
before you done."
Copy !req
732. That's what he said.
Copy !req
733. He tell me.
Copy !req
734. - He was a good boy.
- Yes.
Copy !req
735. Always good.
Copy !req
736. Always good.
Copy !req
737. Jimmie gone.
Copy !req
738. I'm so sorry.
Copy !req
739. Yeah.
Copy !req
740. Who murdered Jimmie Lee Jackson?
Copy !req
741. Who murdered Jimmie Lee Jackson?
Copy !req
742. We know a state trooper
Copy !req
743. acting under the orders
of George Wallace
Copy !req
744. pointed the gun and pulled the trigger.
Copy !req
745. But how many other fingers
were on that trigger?
Copy !req
746. Who murdered Jimmie Lee Jackson?
Copy !req
747. Every white lawman
who abuses the law to terrorize.
Copy !req
748. Every white politician
Copy !req
749. who feeds on prejudice and hatred.
Copy !req
750. Every white preacher
who preaches the Bible
Copy !req
751. and stays silent
before his white congregation.
Copy !req
752. Who murdered Jimmie Lee Jackson?
Copy !req
753. Every Negro man and woman
who stands by without joining this fight
Copy !req
754. as their brothers and sisters
are humiliated,
Copy !req
755. brutalized, and ripped from this earth!
Copy !req
756. When I heard
Copy !req
757. President Kennedy
had been shot and killed...
Copy !req
758. And when I heard just yesterday
Copy !req
759. that Malcolm X,
Copy !req
760. who stood in this very church
just three weeks ago,
Copy !req
761. had been shot and killed,
Copy !req
762. I turned to my wife Coretta
Copy !req
763. and said the same thing I often say
when one of our leaders is struck down,
Copy !req
764. "Our lives are not fully lived
Copy !req
765. "if we're not willing to die
for those we love
Copy !req
766. "and for what we believe."
Copy !req
767. But today, Jimmie,
Copy !req
768. we're doing the living
and you've done the dying, dear brother.
Copy !req
769. We will not let your sacrifice
pass in vain, dear brother.
Copy !req
770. We will not let it go!
Copy !req
771. We will finish what you were after!
Copy !req
772. We will get what you were denied!
Copy !req
773. We will vote and we will
put these men out of office!
Copy !req
774. We will take their power!
Copy !req
775. We will win
what you were slaughtered for!
Copy !req
776. Yeah!
Copy !req
777. We're going back to Washington.
Copy !req
778. We're going to demand
to see the President.
Copy !req
779. And I'm gonna tell him
Copy !req
780. that Jimmie was murdered
by an administration
Copy !req
781. that spends millions
of dollars every day
Copy !req
782. to sacrifice life
in the name of liberty in Vietnam,
Copy !req
783. yet lacks the moral will
and the moral courage
Copy !req
784. to defend the lives
of its own people here in America!
Copy !req
785. We will not let it go!
Copy !req
786. And if he does not act, we will act.
We will act!
Copy !req
787. We will do it for all of our lost ones.
Copy !req
788. All of those, like Jimmie Lee Jackson,
Copy !req
789. who have gone too soon, taken by hate!
Copy !req
790. Let me hear the top-tier issues
Copy !req
791. that have to be evident
in the overall legislation we demand.
Copy !req
792. Let's break it down.
Copy !req
793. But let's root this discussion
in what we know.
Copy !req
794. We know Johnson
can't see the full picture.
Copy !req
795. So, let's paint it for him.
Copy !req
796. What are the specific hardships
and humiliations
Copy !req
797. we can address within the larger
context of legislation?
Copy !req
798. Doc, we gotta start
with banning these laws that
Copy !req
799. if a Negro tries to register,
Copy !req
800. I mean, actually musters up the courage
to go in that courthouse,
Copy !req
801. that their name and address
is published in the paper.
Copy !req
802. It gives anybody who wants
to do them any harm
Copy !req
803. their exact location,
and we know how the Klan is.
Copy !req
804. I hear that. But the poll taxes
got to be our focus first.
Copy !req
805. 'Cause black people are poor!
Black people are poor down here.
Copy !req
806. - Yep.
- And they expected to pay for every year
Copy !req
807. they weren't legally registered
before they can register.
Copy !req
808. Now, what the hell is that?
Who got that kind of money?
Copy !req
809. Come on now! Listen now!
Copy !req
810. The big issue is voting vouchers.
Copy !req
811. Is that the number one issue?
Copy !req
812. Now hold on. Let me finish.
Copy !req
813. 'Cause everybody'll forget
about this part.
Copy !req
814. But if you're Negro,
the only way you can vote
Copy !req
815. is if an approved registered
voter vouches for you.
Copy !req
816. Right? So, let's say, you take
some place like Lowndes County,
Copy !req
817. where there are no Negroes
who are registered
Copy !req
818. and you've got to have
someone who is registered
Copy !req
819. to vouch for you.
Copy !req
820. What are you supposed to do?
Copy !req
821. Nobody you know,
Copy !req
822. not a single black person
for 100 miles is registered.
Copy !req
823. So how do you get the voucher, right?
Copy !req
824. To get you into the courthouse door
Copy !req
825. to pay the poll tax
Copy !req
826. to get your name published
Copy !req
827. and get yourself dead.
Copy !req
828. That's true.
Copy !req
829. We need a new plan!
Copy !req
830. I can't take him back to Washington
Copy !req
831. and waltz into the White House
with a list of empty demands.
Copy !req
832. Tactics, my friends!
Copy !req
833. We must break down this institution
Copy !req
834. into the tangible tactics
that it takes to dismantle it.
Copy !req
835. What's your next move?
Copy !req
836. A march from Selma to Montgomery
to protest and amplify.
Copy !req
837. Well, I'll be damned.
Copy !req
838. This was always part of the plan,
wasn't it?
Copy !req
839. Provoke some tragedy
in little old Selma, then go big.
Copy !req
840. Get someone killed
and march on the State Capitol!
Copy !req
841. Selma to Montgomery's gotta be 50 miles!
Copy !req
842. You march those people
into rural Alabama unprotected,
Copy !req
843. it's gonna be open season.
Copy !req
844. It's too damn far
and too damn dangerous!
Copy !req
845. Then propose new legislation, sir.
Copy !req
846. I can't do that this year. I won't!
I told you.
Copy !req
847. We need your involvement here,
Mr. President.
Copy !req
848. We deserve your help
as citizens of this country.
Copy !req
849. Citizens under attack.
Copy !req
850. Now, you listen to me. You listen to me.
Copy !req
851. You're an activist. I'm a politician.
Copy !req
852. You got one big issue.
I got a hundred and one.
Copy !req
853. Now, you demanding more
Copy !req
854. and putting me on the spot
with this visit, that's okay.
Copy !req
855. That's your job. That's what you do.
Copy !req
856. But I am sick and tired
Copy !req
857. of you demanding and telling me
what I can and what I can't do.
Copy !req
858. If you want my support
on this voting thing,
Copy !req
859. I need some quid pro quo from you.
Copy !req
860. What do you want, Mr. President?
Copy !req
861. We have a line on some threats that are
Copy !req
862. particularly troubling.
Copy !req
863. Well, what's new?
Copy !req
864. No, no. This is serious.
Credible threats with detail.
Copy !req
865. This information,
coming from the FBI, I assume?
Copy !req
866. High-level?
Copy !req
867. The same high-level
that's been tracking us like animals?
Copy !req
868. Bugging our homes and our hotel rooms.
Copy !req
869. Digging for things that
simply are not there, Lee?
Copy !req
870. This all feels very convenient.
Copy !req
871. Okay.
Copy !req
872. This is coming
from Lowndes County, Alabama.
Copy !req
873. Between Selma and Montgomery.
Copy !req
874. I'm telling you, if he were my guy,
Copy !req
875. I'd keep him off the frontlines.
Copy !req
876. Just for a while.
Copy !req
877. Not gonna happen, Lee.
Copy !req
878. Meet me halfway on this, Martin.
Copy !req
879. I can't, Mr. President.
Copy !req
880. Can't or won't?
Copy !req
881. I came here hoping
to talk to you about people.
Copy !req
882. People are dying in the street for this.
Copy !req
883. It cannot wait, sir.
Copy !req
884. Mr. President, how did it go?
Copy !req
885. What can I do to help?
Copy !req
886. Get me J. Edgar Hoover.
Copy !req
887. King,
Copy !req
888. you know you are a complete fraud
Copy !req
889. and a liability to all nigras.
Copy !req
890. Like all frauds,
your end is approaching.
Copy !req
891. You are done.
Copy !req
892. Your degrees and your fancy awards
will not save you.
Copy !req
893. The American public will
soon know you for what you are,
Copy !req
894. an evil, abnormal beast.
Copy !req
895. That wasn't me.
Copy !req
896. That isn't me, Corrie.
Copy !req
897. I know.
Copy !req
898. I know what you sound like.
Copy !req
899. I've gotten used to a lot.
Copy !req
900. All the hours
wondering after your safety,
Copy !req
901. worried about how you are.
Copy !req
902. This house.
Copy !req
903. Renting here.
Copy !req
904. No foundation.
Copy !req
905. Without the things
the children should have,
Copy !req
906. all because of how it would look.
Copy !req
907. I have gotten used to it,
Copy !req
908. for better or worse.
Copy !req
909. But what I have never gotten used to
Copy !req
910. is the death.
Copy !req
911. The constant closeness of death.
Copy !req
912. It's become like a thick fog to me.
Copy !req
913. I can't see life sometimes
Copy !req
914. because of the fog of death
constantly hanging over.
Copy !req
915. People actually say that
they will stop the blood
Copy !req
916. running through the hearts
of our children.
Copy !req
917. That's what they said on the other end
of that phone line.
Copy !req
918. How they're going to kill my children.
Copy !req
919. And what they'll do to you
and how they'll do it.
Copy !req
920. How many years
have I had to listen to this?
Copy !req
921. The filth,
Copy !req
922. deranged and twisted
and just ignorant enough to be serious.
Copy !req
923. If I ask you something,
Copy !req
924. will you answer me with the truth?
Copy !req
925. Yes.
Copy !req
926. Good, because I am not a fool.
Copy !req
927. Do you love me?
Copy !req
928. Yes, I love you, Coretta.
Copy !req
929. Do you love any of the others?
Copy !req
930. No.
Copy !req
931. I need to put the march back a day.
Copy !req
932. Why?
Copy !req
933. I have to be home right now.
Copy !req
934. Yes. Okay. I understand.
Copy !req
935. But I have to tell you
the organization looks good.
Copy !req
936. Real good.
Copy !req
937. The mood is strong.
And the locals are prepared.
Copy !req
938. The SNCC kids are ready to go.
Copy !req
939. We can start it off from Selma,
and you can join in on the second day.
Copy !req
940. I just think it'd be a mistake
to hold people back
Copy !req
941. when their blood is up.
Copy !req
942. I hear you, but we need
to be out there full throttle.
Copy !req
943. This ain't a test run.
Copy !req
944. We need to get to Montgomery.
Copy !req
945. I warned Johnson that
we were going to the Capitol.
Copy !req
946. We need to do just that.
Copy !req
947. And I believe we will. We'll get there.
Copy !req
948. And when we do the real deal,
the finale,
Copy !req
949. when you make the big speech at the end,
Copy !req
950. right on Wallace's doorstep.
Copy !req
951. I don't know, Andy.
Copy !req
952. It'll be just fine.
Copy !req
953. We'll get it started strong.
And you'll finish strong.
Copy !req
954. Okay. Let's proceed.
Copy !req
955. But only one of us walks to start.
Copy !req
956. I don't want to get back on Monday
and find all our leadership in jail.
Copy !req
957. One of us walks.
Copy !req
958. Understood.
Copy !req
959. There will be no march
from Selma to Montgomery.
Copy !req
960. It is not conducive to traffic flow
on Route 80.
Copy !req
961. Or to public safety.
Copy !req
962. Your lives could be in danger,
Copy !req
963. but we're going to be strong
if we stick together.
Copy !req
964. Don't fight back.
It's a non-violent movement.
Copy !req
965. Non-violence is not passive.
It's actually very strong.
Copy !req
966. We shouldn't do this, John.
This is not us. This is not SNCC.
Copy !req
967. It's some bullshit.
Copy !req
968. It's gonna do more for King
and the SCLC than for Selma.
Copy !req
969. This is Alabama.
Copy !req
970. They can keep their asses
in Washington, D.C.
Copy !req
971. You don't tell us how to live our lives.
Copy !req
972. This is an example of what
you might deal with out there.
Copy !req
973. What you might experience.
Here we go. Let's show them.
Copy !req
974. We don't want your kind here.
Copy !req
975. Go to the bottom of the river,
black boy.
Copy !req
976. We're going to put you down
in Alabama River!
Copy !req
977. He's not even here.
How's it gonna do more for him?
Copy !req
978. Well, why ain't he here, then, man?
Copy !req
979. Are you listening to yourself?
Copy !req
980. First, it's gonna do more for him.
Now, it's why he ain't here?
Copy !req
981. Do you want him here,
or do you not want him here?
Copy !req
982. Honestly, I don't give a rat's ass
about that man. That's your hero.
Copy !req
983. Let's take these bastards
and stick them down into Alabama River
Copy !req
984. and never see them again.
Copy !req
985. James, you are so off-base with this.
Copy !req
986. All this nonsense.
This ain't what SNCC is about.
Copy !req
987. Don't make me out to be
the bad guy here, John.
Copy !req
988. I'm not!
You're the one playing me small.
Copy !req
989. Don't demonize me...
Copy !req
990. You're mad because they called him in.
Copy !req
991. We were here first.
And they called him in.
Copy !req
992. I get it. I understand that.
Copy !req
993. But if we are really
and truly for the people,
Copy !req
994. and the people of Selma chose him,
Copy !req
995. well, then the people have spoken.
Copy !req
996. And if they want to march,
then I'm marching with them.
Copy !req
997. Then, brother,
Copy !req
998. you're marching as John Lewis.
Copy !req
999. Not as part of SNCC.
Copy !req
1000. It's been voted on and decided.
Copy !req
1001. For this march, you're on your own
with De Lawd and his disciples.
Copy !req
1002. Short man wins. Short man wins.
Copy !req
1003. Short man wins.
Copy !req
1004. All right.
Copy !req
1005. All right. Who got it?
Copy !req
1006. It's on you, Hosea.
Copy !req
1007. You ready, young blood? You ready?
Copy !req
1008. - All right. Let's do this.
- All right.
Copy !req
1009. About 525 Negroes
had left Brown's Chapel
Copy !req
1010. and walked six blocks to cross
Pettus Bridge and the Alabama River.
Copy !req
1011. There were young and old,
Copy !req
1012. and they carried an assortment of packs,
Copy !req
1013. bed rolls and lunch sacks.
Copy !req
1014. The troopers were waiting
300 yards beyond the end of the bridge.
Copy !req
1015. Behind the troopers
were dozens of possemen,
Copy !req
1016. 15 of them on horses,
and perhaps 100 white spectators.
Copy !req
1017. Can you swim?
Copy !req
1018. Not many swimming pools for black folk
where I come from.
Copy !req
1019. Yeah.
Copy !req
1020. Andy. It's Bayard. Everybody there?
Copy !req
1021. Yes.
Copy !req
1022. Turn on CBS right now, Andy.
Copy !req
1023. Right now. You have a TV there?
Copy !req
1024. - Yes. Now?
- Right now!
Copy !req
1025. Turn on the television set.
Copy !req
1026. We interrupt this program to bring you
a special bulletin from CBS News.
Copy !req
1027. Give 'em two minutes. Stand right there.
Copy !req
1028. We're ready.
Copy !req
1029. This is an unlawful assembly.
Copy !req
1030. You have two minutes to disperse.
Copy !req
1031. Go home or go to your church.
Copy !req
1032. This march will not continue.
Copy !req
1033. Two minutes.
Copy !req
1034. May I have a word with the Major?
Copy !req
1035. There's no word to be had.
Copy !req
1036. Major Cloud, may we speak with you?
Copy !req
1037. Troopers, advance!
Copy !req
1038. Seventy million people
are watching this.
Copy !req
1039. The first 10 or 20 Negroes
Copy !req
1040. were swept to the ground screaming,
arms and legs flying,
Copy !req
1041. packs and bags went skittering
across the grassy divider.
Copy !req
1042. Those still on their feet retreated.
Copy !req
1043. A cheer went up
from the white spectators
Copy !req
1044. lining the south side of the highway.
Copy !req
1045. Come on. You gotta come on.
Copy !req
1046. Please, don't...
Copy !req
1047. The troopers continued pushing,
using both the force of their bodies
Copy !req
1048. and the prodding of their nightsticks.
Copy !req
1049. Suddenly, there was a sharp sound,
like a gunshot,
Copy !req
1050. and a gray cloud spewed over
the troopers and the Negroes.
Copy !req
1051. But before the cloud hid it all,
Copy !req
1052. there were several seconds
of unobstructed view.
Copy !req
1053. Fifteen or 20 nightsticks
could be seen through the gas,
Copy !req
1054. flailing at the heads of the marchers.
Copy !req
1055. The Negroes cried out
as they crowded together for protection,
Copy !req
1056. and the whites on the sidelines
whooped and cheered.
Copy !req
1057. From the hospital
came reports of victims
Copy !req
1058. suffering fractures of ribs,
heads, arms and legs.
Copy !req
1059. And Negro leader John Lewis,
Copy !req
1060. despite injury from
a possible skull fracture,
Copy !req
1061. led the marchers back to the chapel
Copy !req
1062. after the encounter with officers.
Copy !req
1063. Help!
Copy !req
1064. Help!
Copy !req
1065. He said,
"I don't see how President Johnson
Copy !req
1066. "can send troops to Vietnam
Copy !req
1067. "and can't send troops
to Selma, Alabama."
Copy !req
1068. To which the Negroes present
roared their approval.
Copy !req
1069. Gerry! Gerry, come with us!
Come with us!
Copy !req
1070. We need your gun, man!
Copy !req
1071. I can't walk!
Copy !req
1072. Come with us. We know you got
them guns in the shed, Gerry.
Copy !req
1073. Hey, hey, hey, what you need guns for?
Copy !req
1074. The Bible says,
"An eye for an eye," Reverend.
Copy !req
1075. - Yeah?
- I'm sick of this shit!
Copy !req
1076. How many guns
you think they got down there?
Copy !req
1077. That's an entire army down there.
Copy !req
1078. What you got? A couple of.32s? A.38?
Copy !req
1079. Maybe a couple of old scatterguns? What?
Copy !req
1080. I got enough to kill a couple
of them crackers, that's what I got!
Copy !req
1081. And how many of us you think
they gonna kill in retaliation?
Copy !req
1082. With their 12-gauge pump-actions,
their Colt automatics,
Copy !req
1083. their Remingtons,
their helicopters, their tanks!
Copy !req
1084. We won't win that way,
and I ain't talking about the Bible.
Copy !req
1085. I ain't talking what's right by God.
I am talking facts. Cold, hard facts!
Copy !req
1086. Now, you take two of them,
and they take 10 of us.
Copy !req
1087. No. We have to win another way.
Copy !req
1088. to our regularly scheduled program.
Copy !req
1089. We're going back to the bridge.
Copy !req
1090. We're going to finish this,
we promise you that, Ms. Amelia.
Copy !req
1091. We go again.
Copy !req
1092. Dr. King! Can we get a statement, sir?
Copy !req
1093. Dr. King! Morning, Doctor.
Can we get a statement, please?
Copy !req
1094. - Morning.
- Morning.
Copy !req
1095. While rageful violence continues
towards the unarmed people of Selma,
Copy !req
1096. while they are assaulted with tear gas
and batons like an enemy in a war,
Copy !req
1097. no citizen of this country
can call themselves blameless,
Copy !req
1098. for we all bear a responsibility
for our fellow man.
Copy !req
1099. I am appealing to men and women of God
Copy !req
1100. and goodwill everywhere,
Copy !req
1101. white, black and otherwise.
Copy !req
1102. If you believe all are created equal,
come to Selma.
Copy !req
1103. Join us. Join our march
against injustice and inhumanity.
Copy !req
1104. We need you to stand with us.
Copy !req
1105. Judge Johnson, Dr. King's call-to-action
Copy !req
1106. was nationally televised.
Copy !req
1107. We've seen hundreds of people
travel across the country
Copy !req
1108. to attend tomorrow's march,
Copy !req
1109. mostly white,
mostly clergy of some kind.
Copy !req
1110. The SCLC is seeking
a federal court order
Copy !req
1111. enjoining the state authorities
from interfering with the next march.
Copy !req
1112. You're asking me to overturn
the Governor's mandate
Copy !req
1113. and to do so without a hearing,
Copy !req
1114. but it's not going to happen at all
without a proper proceeding.
Copy !req
1115. Dr. King is in position to
lead tomorrow's march, Judge.
Copy !req
1116. Understood, but you will have
your day in court on Thursday, Mr. Gray.
Copy !req
1117. Meanwhile, there will be
no march tomorrow.
Copy !req
1118. I will not oppose Wallace
against protocol.
Copy !req
1119. "Thousands head south in moral crusade."
Copy !req
1120. The SCLC already filed an appeal
against Wallace's orders this morning.
Copy !req
1121. You want my advice, Mr. President?
Copy !req
1122. You have to ask?
Copy !req
1123. Give King the march to Montgomery.
Copy !req
1124. Do that, and then Selma's over.
Copy !req
1125. Then you're back in control.
Copy !req
1126. In control of what?
Copy !req
1127. Another civil war?
Copy !req
1128. This ain't about the goddamn march.
You think he cares about the march?
Copy !req
1129. He wants the law changed, now.
Copy !req
1130. I've got Congress
calling me by the dozens.
Copy !req
1131. I've got picketing that gets
bigger and bigger every day.
Copy !req
1132. He tugs on their goddamn
white liberal conscience.
Copy !req
1133. Every march pulls 'em.
Copy !req
1134. Especially when people
are getting beat up in the streets.
Copy !req
1135. These pictures are
going around the world, Lee.
Copy !req
1136. I understand, Mr. President.
All the more reason to act now.
Copy !req
1137. I'm gonna act now.
Copy !req
1138. You tell Wallace
and those backwater hicks
Copy !req
1139. I don't want to see any more
of this horseshit.
Copy !req
1140. And you tell King he best not march,
you hear me?
Copy !req
1141. Either King stops and Wallace stops,
Copy !req
1142. or I'll stop 'em both.
Copy !req
1143. I'm here on the President's order
to try and make this work.
Copy !req
1144. Please work with me.
Copy !req
1145. So we give up the march and you...
Copy !req
1146. You give what?
Copy !req
1147. We asked for federal protection.
Copy !req
1148. And with no disrespect, but when
the Assistant Attorney General
Copy !req
1149. is the highest-ranking
federal official in Selma,
Copy !req
1150. we have our answer.
Copy !req
1151. And it's not the one we want.
Copy !req
1152. Might I suggest that
you speak with Governor Wallace
Copy !req
1153. and Sheriff Clark
and urge them against violence
Copy !req
1154. instead of trying to persuade us
not to have a peaceful protest?
Copy !req
1155. Maybe we can make a deal.
Copy !req
1156. What if I
Copy !req
1157. could assure you that the administration
Copy !req
1158. would endorse a later march
Copy !req
1159. if tomorrow is called off?
Copy !req
1160. You know what?
He's closer than you may think
Copy !req
1161. to coming around on this issue.
Copy !req
1162. I believe this compromise
might be agreeable.
Copy !req
1163. Mr. Doar?
Copy !req
1164. Thousands have gathered here
to demonstrate their dignity.
Copy !req
1165. I don't want to challenge Judge Johnson.
Copy !req
1166. I don't want to go against the President.
I don't want any of this.
Copy !req
1167. The President could stop this
with a stroke of his pen.
Copy !req
1168. He chooses not to.
Copy !req
1169. The decision is with your side, sir,
Copy !req
1170. not ours.
Copy !req
1171. Good to see you, Father.
Good to see you.
Copy !req
1172. Thank you for coming.
Thank you for coming out.
Copy !req
1173. Hello, sister.
Good to see you this afternoon.
Copy !req
1174. You came.
Copy !req
1175. You called and we came, my friend.
You are not alone, my friend.
Copy !req
1176. Welcome, welcome.
Copy !req
1177. - Hi, what's your name?
- Susan.
Copy !req
1178. Hi, I'm Viola. Welcome to Selma.
Copy !req
1179. - Yes, ma'am, I'm good. How are you?
- Fine, thank you.
Copy !req
1180. What is your name
and where are you from, sir?
Copy !req
1181. My name is James Reeb.
I've come from Boston.
Copy !req
1182. Tell me, why have you traveled here,
Mr. Reeb?
Copy !req
1183. I heard about the attack
of innocent people
Copy !req
1184. who just want their rights,
Copy !req
1185. and I couldn't just stand by
when Dr. King put out that call to clergy.
Copy !req
1186. I couldn't.
Copy !req
1187. The President doesn't
want us to march today.
Copy !req
1188. The courts don't want us to march.
Copy !req
1189. But we must march.
Copy !req
1190. Yeah!
Copy !req
1191. - We must stand up.
- Yeah!
Copy !req
1192. We must make a massive
demonstration of our moral certainty.
Copy !req
1193. I'm so glad we're here together today.
Copy !req
1194. I thank you for standing up.
Copy !req
1195. For we shall be victorious in our quest.
Copy !req
1196. We shall cross the finish line
hand in hand.
Copy !req
1197. For we shall overcome. All right.
Copy !req
1198. Troopers, withdraw!
Copy !req
1199. My point is,
after what happened the last time,
Copy !req
1200. if it don't feel right, we don't do it.
That's my point.
Copy !req
1201. We've been going round
and round on this for hours,
Copy !req
1202. and nothing's gonna change the fact that
Copy !req
1203. it was Doc's decision
and we have to support him.
Copy !req
1204. This is a movement of many, not of one.
Copy !req
1205. So any choice we make
has to be right for many.
Copy !req
1206. Come on, Diane. Now, you know
Copy !req
1207. that's not what I meant
by that, all right?
Copy !req
1208. People are angry, Dr. King.
Copy !req
1209. Angry. They went back to that bridge
because they were hot about Sunday.
Copy !req
1210. That was our moment out there today.
Copy !req
1211. And you threw it away.
Copy !req
1212. They could've sealed off
the road behind us.
Copy !req
1213. No food, water,
no kind of support allowed through.
Copy !req
1214. We wouldn't have made 10 miles.
Copy !req
1215. You saying this was a trap?
Copy !req
1216. I don't know what it was.
Copy !req
1217. That was no trap!
Copy !req
1218. You know why they opened up
the road to us?
Copy !req
1219. Because all them nice,
respectable white folks was with us,
Copy !req
1220. and we should've capitalized on that.
Copy !req
1221. Because they're not gonna be
around here for long. They never are!
Copy !req
1222. It was Martin's call. It's done.
Copy !req
1223. He made the wrong goddamn call!
Copy !req
1224. Hey, watch your mouth, young man!
Copy !req
1225. Two days ago,
you didn't wanna march at all.
Copy !req
1226. And now you're mad because
it didn't go the way you planned?
Copy !req
1227. Calm down, brother.
Copy !req
1228. Now, what happened out there today?
You gotta tell us something. Please.
Copy !req
1229. I'd rather people be upset and hate me
Copy !req
1230. than be bleeding or dead.
Copy !req
1231. My dearest Corrie,
Copy !req
1232. at a time when I need you,
Copy !req
1233. I cannot call you.
Copy !req
1234. And I have done this to myself, to us.
Copy !req
1235. At this late hour,
Copy !req
1236. my thoughts are of you
Copy !req
1237. and all you have sacrificed
for this struggle.
Copy !req
1238. So many have sacrificed.
Copy !req
1239. So many have been lost.
Copy !req
1240. I wonder how many must we lose.
Copy !req
1241. I pray for discernment and guidance
as we journey on.
Copy !req
1242. I pray, too, that I can justify
the faith you once had in me.
Copy !req
1243. I, too, often feel that
heavy fog you spoke of, Corrie.
Copy !req
1244. Only you and our family clears the haze.
Copy !req
1245. Love, Martin.
Copy !req
1246. He betrayed trust.
Copy !req
1247. He called, we came,
and he didn't fulfill his own call.
Copy !req
1248. Yeah, but sometimes
it's not that clear-cut.
Copy !req
1249. Sometimes it's instinctual.
Copy !req
1250. Like when you're preaching,
Copy !req
1251. and you're just flying.
Copy !req
1252. You know, you're not on the notes.
You're not on memory.
Copy !req
1253. You're tapped into what's higher,
what's true.
Copy !req
1254. God is guiding you.
Copy !req
1255. I've known that feeling.
It's rare, but I've known it.
Copy !req
1256. I think that's what happened to Dr. King
up there on the bridge today.
Copy !req
1257. He kneeled down,
prayed to God and got an answer.
Copy !req
1258. And he was brave enough
to follow that answer,
Copy !req
1259. and I, for one, don't fault him for it.
Copy !req
1260. Except he owes me a bus ticket home.
Copy !req
1261. You know what I hate more than niggers?
Copy !req
1262. What's that?
Copy !req
1263. White niggers.
Copy !req
1264. Look, we don't want trouble, okay?
Copy !req
1265. No, you came here stirrin' trouble.
Copy !req
1266. Doc,
Copy !req
1267. someone's been hurt.
Copy !req
1268. A priest, from Boston.
Copy !req
1269. White.
Copy !req
1270. Now you know what
being a nigger around here
Copy !req
1271. feels like, boy.
Copy !req
1272. Hurt? How?
Copy !req
1273. Dead.
Copy !req
1274. I need a phone!
Copy !req
1275. Chicago, Detroit, Boston, I don't care.
Copy !req
1276. Hell, you got 2,000 people
marching up in Harlem.
Copy !req
1277. Well, good for you.
Copy !req
1278. But when you have people
come inside the White House?
Copy !req
1279. Inside the White House! On a tour?
Copy !req
1280. They just sat down, Martin.
Copy !req
1281. They sat down in the main corridor,
started singin' and shoutin'.
Copy !req
1282. Well, I won't have it!
Copy !req
1283. I cannot stop people from expressing...
Copy !req
1284. You can! You can stop them.
Copy !req
1285. No, you can stop it.
You, sir, can do more.
Copy !req
1286. Now I'm glad to hear that you
called Reverend Reeb's widow, sir.
Copy !req
1287. That is very fine, and it is right.
Copy !req
1288. I only wish that
Jimmie Lee Jackson's family
Copy !req
1289. would have received the same
consideration from their President.
Copy !req
1290. Don't you lay your guilt at my door.
Copy !req
1291. You're the one choosing to send
Copy !req
1292. people out to slaughter
when we told you there was trouble.
Copy !req
1293. We won't sit idle
Copy !req
1294. while you wait another year or two
to send this bill up at your leisure.
Copy !req
1295. That should be clear by now.
Copy !req
1296. We will continue to demonstrate
until you take action, sir.
Copy !req
1297. And if our President
won't protect our rights,
Copy !req
1298. we will take this fight to court.
Copy !req
1299. You know, I'm... I'm trying here.
Copy !req
1300. We're getting close
to figuring something out
Copy !req
1301. on this voting thing,
but I will not have this!
Copy !req
1302. This bill has been almost impossible
to craft, you hear me?
Copy !req
1303. You think you're jugglin', Martin?
I'm jugglin', too.
Copy !req
1304. I am a preacher from Atlanta.
Copy !req
1305. You are the man who won the presidency
Copy !req
1306. of the world's most powerful nation
Copy !req
1307. by the greatest landslide
in history four months ago.
Copy !req
1308. And you are the man
Copy !req
1309. dismantling your own legacy
with each passing day.
Copy !req
1310. No one will remember
the Civil Rights Act.
Copy !req
1311. But they will remember
the standoff in Selma
Copy !req
1312. when you never even
set foot in this state.
Copy !req
1313. They will remember you saying,
"Wait, " and "I can't,"
Copy !req
1314. unless you act, sir.
Copy !req
1315. - Evenin'.
- Evenin'.
Copy !req
1316. I wanted to speak privately.
Copy !req
1317. I know there's been trouble
with the group,
Copy !req
1318. and I apologize that our efforts
have caused a rift between y'all.
Copy !req
1319. That's a painful thing, I know,
and I'm truly sorry it's happened.
Copy !req
1320. Yeah, painful.
Copy !req
1321. LBJ is not moving, John.
Copy !req
1322. I thought he would,
but our efforts are not working,
Copy !req
1323. and I can't risk another march
with people getting killed
Copy !req
1324. when it's not working. I won't do it.
Copy !req
1325. We need voting, not marching.
You know that.
Copy !req
1326. We have to move beyond these protests
to some real political power.
Copy !req
1327. This can't go on forever like this.
Copy !req
1328. I can't go on like this.
Copy !req
1329. When I was...
Copy !req
1330. When I was working with SNCC
on the Freedom Rides,
Copy !req
1331. the Montgomery bus
reached the city limits.
Copy !req
1332. We got off. And out of nowhere,
Copy !req
1333. from all directions, they came.
Copy !req
1334. There was men, women.
Copy !req
1335. Kids, too.
Copy !req
1336. They had just about every makeshift
weapon you could think of.
Copy !req
1337. I mean, bats, bricks,
Copy !req
1338. tire irons, pipes.
Copy !req
1339. I remember...
Copy !req
1340. I remember this little girl
just clawing her nails
Copy !req
1341. into the side of my friend Jessie's face
Copy !req
1342. while her daddy...
Her daddy beat him with an ax handle.
Copy !req
1343. Jessie was unconscious,
Copy !req
1344. and they just kept beating on him
and beating on him.
Copy !req
1345. I must've passed out
on the asphalt somewhere.
Copy !req
1346. Next day, I found myself patched up
and sitting in a church.
Copy !req
1347. I could barely hold my head up,
but I needed to be there.
Copy !req
1348. You were gonna be speaking.
Copy !req
1349. And I needed to hear you.
Copy !req
1350. And I was feeling down,
but you got up there.
Copy !req
1351. You remember that day at all?
Copy !req
1352. I don't think we remember it
the same way.
Copy !req
1353. What'd I say, John?
Copy !req
1354. I'm about to tell you right now.
Copy !req
1355. And I hope you hear me.
Copy !req
1356. You said that we would triumph.
Copy !req
1357. That we would triumph
because there could be no other way.
Copy !req
1358. And you know what else you said?
Copy !req
1359. You said,
Copy !req
1360. "Fear not.
Copy !req
1361. "We've come too far to turn back now."
Copy !req
1362. I feel good about where we are.
We have a strong case.
Copy !req
1363. - We can do this.
- Right.
Copy !req
1364. Now, Ms. Cooper
and Ms. Boynton are here,
Copy !req
1365. and they need to be ready.
Copy !req
1366. A lot depends
on what they have to say. Okay?
Copy !req
1367. I hear what you're saying, but...
Copy !req
1368. You're here.
Copy !req
1369. Yes, I'm here.
Copy !req
1370. I'm glad.
Copy !req
1371. Just in time.
Copy !req
1372. In the matter of the Southern
Christian Leadership Conference
Copy !req
1373. v. The state of Alabama,
Copy !req
1374. I will now hear testimony
from the plaintiffs. Mr. Gray.
Copy !req
1375. Your Honor, you will hear testimony
from the victims
Copy !req
1376. who were beaten and bludgeoned
in their quest for freedom.
Copy !req
1377. For their right to vote
and to self-determine.
Copy !req
1378. The fact of the matter, Your Honor,
Copy !req
1379. is that the incidents that occurred
cannot be disputed.
Copy !req
1380. These particular circumstances
Copy !req
1381. will paint a thorough picture
of the horrific events endured in Selma.
Copy !req
1382. Very well, you may proceed.
Copy !req
1383. Mr. King, you went out on that bridge
in direct violation of that judge's orders.
Copy !req
1384. You deliberately disobeyed this judge
and the Governor, did you not?
Copy !req
1385. Thousands of people came to Selma,
Copy !req
1386. aroused by Sunday's brutal acts
Copy !req
1387. exacted by officials
of the city of Selma
Copy !req
1388. and the state of Alabama.
Copy !req
1389. I felt if I had not led the march,
Copy !req
1390. pent-up emotions and inner tensions
would have led to an uncontrollable
Copy !req
1391. retaliatory situation,
Copy !req
1392. a violent situation on both sides.
Copy !req
1393. I don't need any of your preaching
and prancing in here,
Copy !req
1394. you hear? I want an answer.
Copy !req
1395. - Objection.
- Watch it, counselor.
Copy !req
1396. I'm trying very hard, Judge.
Copy !req
1397. Try harder, counselor.
Copy !req
1398. It seems basic to
our constitutional principles
Copy !req
1399. that the extent
of the right to assemble,
Copy !req
1400. and demonstrate and march
Copy !req
1401. along the highway in a peaceful manner
Copy !req
1402. ought to be commensurate
Copy !req
1403. with the enormity of the wrongs
Copy !req
1404. that are being protested
and petitioned against.
Copy !req
1405. In this case, the wrongs are enormous.
Copy !req
1406. Therefore,
Copy !req
1407. the extent of the right to demonstrate
Copy !req
1408. in an estimated five-day march
from Selma to Montgomery
Copy !req
1409. has been approved accordingly.
Copy !req
1410. - Yes!
- Thank God!
Copy !req
1411. There's no further business
with this court.
Copy !req
1412. These proceedings are concluded,
with our thanks to the litigants.
Copy !req
1413. Good day, gentlemen.
Copy !req
1414. Yeah, that's right.
Copy !req
1415. Well, now, we don't like
to have no mistakes, if you...
Copy !req
1416. If you're sure about it.
Copy !req
1417. Bayard says that Harry says
he can get Nina Simone,
Copy !req
1418. Dick Gregory, Joan Baez,
Peter, Paul and Mary in.
Copy !req
1419. Come on now.
We don't got money for that.
Copy !req
1420. Well, Harry is chartering
a plane himself.
Copy !req
1421. Day-O, day-O
Copy !req
1422. Daylight come and me wan' go home
Copy !req
1423. President's angling for your blocking
of the march to be overturned.
Copy !req
1424. Unfortunately, all my maneuvers
have been put on hold
Copy !req
1425. while the matter's being adjudicated.
Copy !req
1426. Governor, you wanted to talk.
Copy !req
1427. Well, Mr. President...
Copy !req
1428. Malcontents are disrupting Alabama,
and it's your responsibility to stop them.
Copy !req
1429. They're protesting
about the right to vote
Copy !req
1430. and the way they're treated
in your state.
Copy !req
1431. So that's your problem,
your responsibility,
Copy !req
1432. and it's on your watch.
Copy !req
1433. Mr. President, I disagree.
Copy !req
1434. We have a certain way things are done.
It's the way it is.
Copy !req
1435. And it's the way
the people want it to stay.
Copy !req
1436. George, why are you doing this?
Copy !req
1437. Your whole career
has been working for the poor.
Copy !req
1438. Why are you off on this black thing?
Copy !req
1439. Well, 'cause you can't
ever satisfy them.
Copy !req
1440. First, it's the front seat of the bus.
Copy !req
1441. Next, it's take over the parks,
Copy !req
1442. then it's the public schools,
then it's voting, then it's jobs,
Copy !req
1443. then it's distribution of wealth
without work.
Copy !req
1444. George, you seen all those demonstrators
Copy !req
1445. out front of the White House
Copy !req
1446. keeping my Lady Bird awake
the whole damn night?
Copy !req
1447. Oh, yes, Mr. President. I saw them.
Copy !req
1448. Well, let's go out there, you and I,
Copy !req
1449. and announce that you've decided to
let the blacks vote undeterred,
Copy !req
1450. and this whole mess will go away.
Copy !req
1451. And I don't have to draft bills
or force the issue.
Copy !req
1452. Now, why don't we do that, George?
Copy !req
1453. Why don't you just let the niggers vote?
Copy !req
1454. You agree they got
the right to vote, don't you?
Copy !req
1455. There's no quarrel with that.
Copy !req
1456. I know that. That's the law.
Copy !req
1457. Then why don't you just let 'em vote?
Copy !req
1458. I don't have that power.
It belongs to the county registrars.
Copy !req
1459. Now, don't shit me
about who runs Alabama.
Copy !req
1460. I don't have any legal power
Copy !req
1461. over the county registrars,
Mr. President.
Copy !req
1462. They have their regulations
and they adhere.
Copy !req
1463. Are you trying to shit me,
George Wallace?
Copy !req
1464. Are you trying
to fuck over your President?
Copy !req
1465. Mr. President...
Copy !req
1466. We shouldn't even
be thinking about 1965.
Copy !req
1467. We should be thinking about 1985.
Copy !req
1468. You and I'll be
both dead and gone by then.
Copy !req
1469. In 1985, what do you want looking back?
Copy !req
1470. You want people remembering you sayin',
Copy !req
1471. "Wait," or "I can't,"
or, "It's too hard"?
Copy !req
1472. I don't right care what they think,
Copy !req
1473. and you shouldn't neither.
Copy !req
1474. Well...
Copy !req
1475. I'll be damned if I'm gonna let history
Copy !req
1476. put me in the same place
as the likes of you.
Copy !req
1477. I speak tonight for the dignity of man
Copy !req
1478. and the destiny of democracy.
Copy !req
1479. At times, history and fate
Copy !req
1480. meet at a single time in a single place.
Copy !req
1481. So it was last week in Selma, Alabama.
Copy !req
1482. There, long suffering men and women
Copy !req
1483. peacefully protested the denial
of their rights as Americans.
Copy !req
1484. Rarely in any time
Copy !req
1485. does an issue lay bare the secret heart
Copy !req
1486. of America itself.
Copy !req
1487. The issue for equal rights
for the American Negro
Copy !req
1488. is that issue.
Copy !req
1489. For this issue,
Copy !req
1490. many of them were brutally assaulted.
Copy !req
1491. There is no Negro problem.
There is no Southern problem.
Copy !req
1492. There is only an American problem.
Copy !req
1493. The Constitution says that
Copy !req
1494. no person shall be kept from voting
Copy !req
1495. because of his race or color.
Copy !req
1496. To correct the denial
of this fundamental right,
Copy !req
1497. this Wednesday,
I will send to Congress a law
Copy !req
1498. designed to eliminate
these illegal barriers.
Copy !req
1499. The bill will strike down
Copy !req
1500. voting restrictions in all elections,
Copy !req
1501. federal, state and local.
Copy !req
1502. And we shall do this.
Copy !req
1503. We shall overcome.
Copy !req
1504. We believe we can cover you
through Lowndes County,
Copy !req
1505. but once we add the final day's march
through Montgomery,
Copy !req
1506. and you're passing through
all those tall buildings and whatnot,
Copy !req
1507. coverage becomes challenging.
Copy !req
1508. So please consider
Copy !req
1509. driving in on the final leg.
Copy !req
1510. And please consider nixing
the speech at the Capitol.
Copy !req
1511. Well, if Wallace will see us
when we arrive,
Copy !req
1512. there'll be no need for a speech.
Copy !req
1513. Can you arrange that?
Copy !req
1514. I can't hide.
Copy !req
1515. We can't hide. You understand.
Copy !req
1516. I don't want to see this
go wrong for you.
Copy !req
1517. Don't you want
to protect yourself, Doctor?
Copy !req
1518. Let me try to do that.
Copy !req
1519. You know, I know you want to live to see
Copy !req
1520. the fruits of all this work.
I know you do.
Copy !req
1521. I'm just asking you to allow us
to help you do that.
Copy !req
1522. I'm no different than anybody else.
Copy !req
1523. I want to live long and be happy.
Copy !req
1524. But I'll not be focusing
on what I want today.
Copy !req
1525. I'm focused on what God wants.
Copy !req
1526. We're here for a reason,
through many, many storms.
Copy !req
1527. But, today, the sun is shining,
and I'm about to stand in its warmth
Copy !req
1528. alongside a lot of freedom-loving people
who worked hard to get us here.
Copy !req
1529. I may not be with them
for all the sunny days to come,
Copy !req
1530. but as long as there
is light ahead for them,
Copy !req
1531. it's worth it to me.
Copy !req
1532. Thank you, John.
Copy !req
1533. We heard them say
we'd never make it here.
Copy !req
1534. We heard them say they'd stop us,
if it was the last thing they did.
Copy !req
1535. We heard them say
we don't deserve to be here.
Copy !req
1536. But today, we stand as Americans.
Copy !req
1537. We are here,
Copy !req
1538. and we ain't gonna let nobody
turn us around.
Copy !req
1539. This mighty march,
Copy !req
1540. which will be counted
as one of the greatest
Copy !req
1541. demonstrations of protest and progress,
Copy !req
1542. ends here in the Capitol ofAlabama
Copy !req
1543. for a vital purpose.
Copy !req
1544. We have not fought only
for the right to sit where we please
Copy !req
1545. and go to school where we please.
Copy !req
1546. We do not only strive here today
to vote as we please.
Copy !req
1547. But with our commitment,
Copy !req
1548. we give birth each day to a new energy
Copy !req
1549. that is stronger than
our strongest opposition.
Copy !req
1550. And we embrace
this new energy so boldly,
Copy !req
1551. embody it so fervently,
Copy !req
1552. that its reflection illuminates
a great darkness.
Copy !req
1553. Our society has distorted who we are.
Copy !req
1554. From slavery to the Reconstruction
Copy !req
1555. to the precipice at which we now stand,
Copy !req
1556. we have seen powerful
white men rule the world
Copy !req
1557. while offering poor white men
a vicious lie as placation.
Copy !req
1558. And when the poor white man's children
Copy !req
1559. wail with a hunger
that cannot be satisfied,
Copy !req
1560. he feeds them that same vicious lie.
Copy !req
1561. A lie whispering to them
Copy !req
1562. that regardless of their lot in life,
Copy !req
1563. they can at least be triumphant
in the knowledge
Copy !req
1564. that their whiteness makes
them superior to blackness.
Copy !req
1565. But we know the truth.
Copy !req
1566. We know the truth, and we will
go forward to that truth, to freedom.
Copy !req
1567. We will not be stopped.
Copy !req
1568. We will march for our rights.
Copy !req
1569. We will march to demand
treatment as full citizens.
Copy !req
1570. We will march until the viciousness
and the darkness
Copy !req
1571. gives way to the light of righteousness.
Copy !req
1572. No man, no myth,
Copy !req
1573. no malaise will stop this movement.
Copy !req
1574. We forbid it.
For we know that it is this darkness
Copy !req
1575. that murders the best in us
and the best of us.
Copy !req
1576. Whether Jimmie Lee Jackson
or James Reeb,
Copy !req
1577. or four blameless little girls
Copy !req
1578. struck down before they had even begun.
Copy !req
1579. You may ask, when will we
be free of this darkness?
Copy !req
1580. I say to you today,
my brothers and sisters,
Copy !req
1581. despite the pain,
despite the tears,
Copy !req
1582. our freedom will soon be upon us.
Copy !req
1583. For "truth crushed to earth
will rise again."
Copy !req
1584. When will we be free?
Copy !req
1585. Soon, and very soon.
Copy !req
1586. Because you shall reap what you sow.
Copy !req
1587. When will we be free?
Copy !req
1588. Soon, and very soon.
Copy !req
1589. Because no lie can live forever.
Copy !req
1590. When will we be free?
Copy !req
1591. Soon, and very soon
Copy !req
1592. because "Mine eyes have seen
Copy !req
1593. "the glory of the coming of the Lord.
Copy !req
1594. "He is trampling out the vintage
Copy !req
1595. "where the grapes of wrath are stored.
Copy !req
1596. "He hath loosed the fateful lightning
Copy !req
1597. "of his terrible swift sword.
Copy !req
1598. "His truth is marching on.
Copy !req
1599. "Glory! Hallelujah!
Copy !req
1600. "His truth is marching on."
Copy !req