15 feb 1968 & ACT #throwback thursday

#OTD Throwback Thursday ACT members protest the White House Conference on Civil Rights outside of the Sheraton Park Hotel (2660 Woodley Rd, NW) on 1 June 1966. President Lyndon B Johnson promised the conference at a speech he gave at Howard University on 1 June 1965. The purpose of the conference was to continue the work of the civil rights acts of 1964 and 1965. More than 2,000 individuals attended the conference. However, ACT and SNCC chose to boycott the conference. 

"The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee believes the White House Conference entitled, 'To Secure These Rights,' is absolutely unnecessary and rejects its invitation to participate in this useless endeavor." Read the full statement here.

Notice the signs:

"Watts 1965-Washington 1966?"
"No Justice in DC Courts for Black People, ACT"
"White House Conference on What?"

Please comment below. Were you a member of ACT? Do you remember the boycott? In what other ways did ACT organize? Was ACT active in 1968? You may comment privately here.

Photo source: DC Public Library Special Collections, 1966.