19 july 1968 #throwbackthursday police brutality must go
#OTD-ish 19 July 1968 #throwbackthursday The Associated Community Teams (1834 9th St, NW) distributed this flyer throughout the city circa 1966. ACT was a national organization with a DC chapter chaired by Julius Hobson, long-time activist and federal government employee. Rimsky Atkinson Jr was vice-chair. ACT billed itself as "The Organization of the Militants."
The flyer states:
CHIEF LAYTON
WE WANT ACTION NOW
POLICE BRUTALITY MUST GO
IN PRECINCTS 9, 10, 13
WE DEMAND ACTION
John B. Layton was the white police chief. Precincts 9, 10 and 13 were all located in the northwest quadrant. Precinct 9 was bounded by Connecticut Ave, L St, 14th St and P St. Precinct 10 was bounded by 16 St, Harvard St, Florida Ave and 14th St. Precinct 13 was bounded by 13th St, 16th St and Florida Ave. See map below.
Courtesy National Building Museum. Map featured in their exhibit on Pilot District Project. c1970.
Your comments are welcome below. Do you, family members and neighbors remember this flyer? Do you remember Hobson and Atkinson? Do you remember ACT? Do you remember the office space on 9th St? Do you have photographs? Do you remember conversations/actions re police brutality? What do you remember about these neighborhoods in 1966 and 1968? You may comment privately here.
Photo source: Courtesy DC Public Library Special Collections. Collection 1, Papers of Julius Hobson, Series 2: Act Box 3, Folder ACT Misc Papers I, 1965-1969.
Adam Clayton Powell, "Powell on Black Power," Letter to the Editor, Evening Star 15 September 1966. Powerful letter responding to Evening Star editorial re Black Power as viable strategy.
