SUNFLOWER COUNTY - ACTIVITY REPORT, Monday, Jan. 12, 1965
Six voter registration workers went to Morrhead today to canvass. Our*»
purpose was to get people to go to the sourthouse    tomorrow in Indianola,
with the long range goal of setting up a project in Moorhead.  We had been
to Morrhead before, but never to get people to register. 325 people cast
"freedom votes" here during the "freedom election," During the summer we
passed out leaflets urging people ot come to Indianola to meetings,  telling
the importance of voting and urged the signing of freedom registration forms.
We were in town for two hours today. Ten people promised to come to the
courthouse in Indianola tomorrow. Once k dy told me she was plain scared and
that's all. Another lady wanted to know tifeat we would do if she couldn't find
work as a result of registering. I told her of the food and clothing campaign.
One lady told a feraacBe worker she was afraid her husband would lose his job.
One local girl is working on voter registration.
The ten people will be picked up by us in the morning at 9 a.m. At approximately 1 p.m. tonorrow we will canvass again for voter registration.
There is a precinct meeting tonight in Indianola. This precinct   has been
going for about four weeks.
- JANUAFY 12,   1965:
None of the ten people we expected to come to the courthouse from Moorhead
were prepared to bo when I came to pick them up this morning. They weee all
scared. Each had an excuse. One lady's husband told her not to go. One lady
was sick, another had to work. A white man in town told an old woman at the
"freedom day" not to be involved anymore. This same woman decided not to go
to the courthouse this morning. She had been frightened. Her friend who was
going with her decided not to go. One lady failed to answer the door.
Two COFO workers were left in town in the morning to get people to go to the
courthouse this afternoon. Two people were carried to the courthouse this
afternoon. Two people were carride to the oourthouse this afternoon. Five
of us canvassed until k p.m. Six peole are supposed to go to Indianola
tomorrow. I will pick them up at 9 a.m. They are all women except one. Two
of the women are in their early 30*s. The others are older. There is potential
leadership in the two younger. One, Queen Ester Harris, participated in the
Greenwood demonstration this summer. She had been attending mass meetings in
Itta Bena. The other is anxious and very literate. She will wpobably teach
Voter Registration and literacy in a couple of weeks. Mrs. Harris had a
house, xdiich she rents from a Negro woman?? it can be used for V.R. meetings.
She is looking for a place for some worker to stay (probably me). If she
can't find some other place,  someone can stay at her place. We jblan a
meeting of some 15 - 20 people for Monday. I'm supposed to pick up people
tomorrow morning and afternoon to go to the courthouse.
- JANUARY 13,   1955
At • p.m. thr«re      people were ready to go to the courthouse to register.
At 1 p.m. one other lady went. She is ready to get more involved  in the
movement. Three people canvassed the town the rest of the afternoon.  An
elderly couple and a mman will go to the couthhouse on Friday afternoon.
As We canvassed this afternoon we found that people wanted to lave a meeting.
When they learn there is a test to take,  they would like to talk to other
people about it and go over the test in a group. This gives a little more
confidence. We hope to have a meeting this Monday might.
- JANUARY 111,   1965     .
COFO meeting in Jackson. I have former] no definite opinion of the meeting.
- JANUARY 15,  1965
Two people from Morrhead   went to Indianola to register. One, Mrs. Terry,
could be a good contact if she had to be. Her daughter is active and wants
to be more active. 9ie (the mother) is ove*»-protective and holds her back
a little. I wouldn't depend on this contact right now. An older   man, Mr,
Drain, went to register also. He had been a year before we came to town.
Very literate.
There was a precinct meeting in Indianola and a mass meiing in Ruleville.