Description

Statement by Ellis Thomas, Jr. of harrassment of black students at Central High School by white students and police in 1960. Jarrett Pine Bluff FR4-8967 My name is Ellis Thomas Jr. I live in Little Rock, Ark. and today as I left the Central High school, today, May 27, 1960, time approximately 3:45. I took Sybil home and after we dropped her off, Sandra had to go to the beauty parlor. While I was waiting for them as kids came out they began to throw eggs and rocks and Sybil came out. She was crying, she had eggs all over her, she had been struck in the head with eggs. We left, and one motorcycle police man followed us for about a block until I turned off to take Sybil home. When I came down 15th (Sybil lives at 8th and Park). As I was going down 16th I sat these two motorcycle policemen in front of me, and I guess they saw me too. So when I turned on ________, 16th and Bishop, they made a U-turn and came back and followed me. When I got down between 17th and 18th on Bishop well they tooted and negged for me to pull over so I stopped. He walked over and said "alright, pile out". And so I just stood there and looked at him because he snatched the door open and we all got out. He began to search us and search the car. They patted us down, the...

From Collection

Land of (Unequal) Opportunity

Record Contributed By

University of Arkansas