May, 1964: The world looks on as peaceful, non-violent protests against racial segregation turn sour in St. Augustine, Florida. During the coming weeks many protesters will receive verbal and physical abuse from local segregationists, most notably Klansmen. The SCLC, founded by Martin Luther King, lends support to the protests.

June 30th, 1964: Controversial activist Malcolm X sends the following telegram to King. In it, he offers to send some ‘brothers’ to St. Augustine as backup.

January, 1965: Asked about X’s views, King says: ‘I know that I have often wished that he would talk less of violence, because violence is not going to solve our problem. And in his litany of articulating the despair of the Negro without offering any positive, creative alternative, I feel that Malcolm has done himself and our people a great disservice.’

Transcript

WESTERN UNION

TELEGRAM

AA36 SYC162 (39).

SY LTA213 DL PD 5 EXTRA= TDLT EAST ELMHURST NY 30

1113A EDT=

1964 JUN 30 PM 12 03

DR MARTIN LUTHER KING=

ST AUGUSTINE FLO=

WE HAVE BEEN WITNESSING WITH GREAT CONCERN THE VICIOUS ATTACKS OF THE WHITE RACES AGAINST OUR POOR DEFENSELESS PEOPLE THERE IN ST AUGUSTINE. IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT SEND TROOPS TO YOUR AID, JUST SAY THE WORD AND WE WILL IMMEDIATELY DISPATCH SOME OUR BROTHERS THERE TO ORGANIZE SELF DEFENSE UNITS AMONG OUR PEOPLE AND THE KLU KLUX KLAN WILL THEN RECEIVE A TASTE OF ITS OWN MEDICINE. THE DAY OF TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK TO THOSE BRUTE BEASTS IS OVER=

THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRO-AMERICAN UNITY

MALCOLM-X CHAIRMAN THERESA HOTEL HARLEM NY=