Archive photograph

[Photograph 2012.201.OVZ001.9145]

Photograph used for a story in the Oklahoma City Times newspaper. Caption: "More than 200 Negroes stood on the south steps of the capitol Saturday morning and pledged "good faith" to Gov. Edmondson for creation of a racial study committee. The governor was not present. He had other plans which his office would not disclose. John Criswell, Edmondson's press secretary, spoke for the governor, who could not attend......E. C. Moon jr., local NAACP president, offered praise and commendation to a "young governor and statesman." The crowd at the capitol sand while members of the Moon Junior High School band opened the program with the national anthem. E. Melvin Porter, attorney and NAACP accomadations committee chairman, sadi, "We are gathering here to show good faith in the study committee to be appointed by the governor. John Heidbrink, a white who is University of Oklahoma chaplin and campus Presbyterian minister, spoke against the "dupicity in laws and customs of this land that do not adhere to the principles of democracy and Christianity."......"That's a hard word to define. We haven't put any time limit on our intentions, but it will depend on indication from the study committee. It will dpnd on whether the committee indicates positive actions is being taken, and also on the unrest of our people," Porter added."