from S.N.C.C.
Robertina Freeman, 15, and Alex Brown, 15, have been sentenced to incarceration in the Georgia Training School until they are no longer minorse This is the maximum penalty and would mean that Robertina would spend three years and Alex 6 years imprisonment on a charge of fornication. Both teenagers are Negro and are very active in the movement. During the summer of 1963, they, along with many others were arrested and put on three years parole. Minors could be taken off parole and released in custody of their parents if the parents would sign a Release. Reverend Freeman forgot to sign the Release for his daughter.
During the Autumn of 1964, Robertina Freeman became one of three . Negro girls to integrate the Americus High School, In May of 1965, she and Alex Brown were picked up at the Sunset Park in Americus by a Goergia State Patrolman and he accused them of fornication, The State Trooper stated: "I shined my light in the car and Alex Brown was on top of her. He looked up, turned his head and just kept going." Robertina and Alex were taken to Atlanta, Georgia, to take a lie detector test. Their denial of the charge was confirmed by the lie detector test. They were sentenced in a closeddoor hearing with their parents, Attorney Warren Fortson and Judge James We Smith presiding, Attorney Fortson is a cousin of Ben Fortson, Secretary of State in Georgia, Attorney Fortson was apparently shocked at the maximum penalty being given when this same judge had released persons on the same charge previously.
Robertina and Alex are out on an Appeal Bond, but this bond is good only for 30 days, and there is small chance that they will be able to get an appeal. Citizens of Sumpter County have had several meetings in protest against the decision handed down by Judge Smith. Neither Robertina nor Alex had any previous record with the exception of the demonstration in 1963.
The Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (S.N.C.C.) has been working in Americus, Georgia, since 1961. A spokesman from S.N.C.C. stated: "Attorney Fortson didn't have records of the proceedings made because ‘it would rile the judge'", This is another example of the type of harrassment the Negro citizens of Americus are confronted with. There have been several protest meetings to discuss this and other actions taken by the white citizens of Americus. The local Negro citizens say that if no action is taken on this case, they will fill the city with demonstrations. Editorial notes Readers wishing to express their disgust with this shocking case should send letters to the American Embassy and local newspapers, you can also express your solidarity with S.N.C.C. by writing tos S.N.C.C., 6, Raymond Ste, N.We, Georgia, U.S.A.