Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). "Spot Report." May 15, 1968.
Microfiche: 1979-120C
Date Issued: May 15, 1968
Date Declassified: [No declassification date]
Length: 3 pages
NOT Sanitized
FULL TEXT
Spot Report:
1. The National Committee to End the War in Vietnam, a coalition of anti-war groups which
sponsored the march on the Pentagon last October, endorsed the Poor People's Campaign at a
meeting, 10 May 1968. A representative of the Campaign at the meeting said plans were being
made to invade and take over federal offices if the campaign's demands are not met. He said the
Campaign is planning a long stay in Washington, D.C.
SOURCE: FBI, TWX, dated 14 May 1968
2. James Bevel, a former Deputy to the late Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., and on loan from
the SCLC to act as Executive Director of the National Committee to end the War in Vietnam has been
very active in the Poor People's Campaign and is in charge of "non-violent" workshops
which are supposed to be held continually during the Poor People's Campaign. Bevel previously
headed the April 15th Mobilization Committee and has participated in a number of peace programs
throughout the country. He has addressed meetings of the W.E.B. Dubois Clubs of America and
reportedly has stated in response to the question of whether he is a Communist, "every
thinking American should be". Bevel was a speaker at the founding convention of the
Committee for Independent Political Action (CIPA) in January 1966.
The CIPA is a radical group founded to stress the link-up between the "Peace", civil
rights, and student protests movements. Among participating organizations at its organizing
convention were: SNCC, SCLC, CPUSA, Dubois Clubs of America, the New Breed, Women for Peace,
Black Panthers, Deacons for Defense, American Friends Service Committee, SDS, The All-Negro
American Labor Council, and two labor unions; the United Packinghouse Workers and the Shoe and
Leather Workers. Since the founding meeting, Victoria Gray representing the Mississippi Freedom
Democratic Party, and Mike Miller, representing the Friends of SNCC, have been affiliated.
At a public meeting in Knoxville, Tennessee, recently Bevel said, "Our capitalistic system
is outdated and geared for 16th century people, but we are in the 20th century." He has also
spoken out against the McCarran Act.
Diane Nash Bevel, wife of James, was an illegal traveller to North Vietnam, a leader of the SNCC
Program against ROTC and the SNCC Workshop in Nashville in March 1967, and has denounced U.S.
"terror tactics" in Vietnam.
SOURCE: FBI, Military Intelligence Digest, and News Media
RELIABILITY: Deemed Accurate
3. Signs of Things to Come
When a portion of the Poor People's Campaign "non-violent" Midwest contingent augmented
by local supporters were in the process of holding an enroute night rally and demonstration in
Detroit, 13 May 1968, their communications (loud speakers) vehicle broke down in front of the
convention hall (donated for use by the city) and blocked traffic. The marchers were unable to
effect repairs quickly enough to satisfy local police officers who first suggested it be pushed
aside and, that not being heeded, offered to tow it out of the way. This offer was refused and
then when the police insisted on towing it, the marchers, at the order of one of their leaders,
surrounded the vehicle and obstructed the police efforts. Upon being so defied, police
reinforcements were called and upon their arrival a scuffle ensued during which mounted police
apparently charged to break up a crowd of about 100. Five demonstrators were treated at Detroit
General Hospital, although not seriously hurt. A number of these "non-violent"
demonstrators then ripped legs off wooden folding tables and prepared to do battle. Apparently
in view of the impending confrontation, some 2,500 of the crowd of 3,500 decided to leave the
area. Fortunately, after remonstration and exhortation by the march leaders and with the exercise
of restraint by the police who withdrew, further escalation of the melee was averted and the
incident remained relatively minor. Reverend Abernathy, back in Washington, D.C., quickly cited
the affair as an "unprovoked attack" on the marchers by the police. SCLC and Detroit
authorities are investigating.
SOURCE: News Media
RELIABILITY: Unknown
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