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From Medgar Wiley Evers

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Author: Evers, Medgar Wiley

Date: August 20, 1957

Location: Jackson, Miss.

Genre: Letter

Details

Following Evers's 14 February election as assistant secretary of the Southern Leaders Conference, Gloster Current suggested to Evers that his position in the new group might conflict with his role as the NAACP's Mississippi field secretary. On 11 March Evers asked Wilkins for his “opinion on the matter, ” explaining that he had not intended to violate NAACP policy, but was "sincere in trying to do what I possibly could to bring first-class citizenship to our section of the country.” In a 2 April reply Wilkins advised Evers to “quietly ease out of service at a convenient time on the excuse that your duties with the NAACP require that you not be committed to specific duties with another group.” In the following letter Evers resigns his SCLC office. 1 King accepted his decision in a 28 August letter: “Certainly, we hate to lose you from the conference . . . but I can well understand the reasons why you find it necessary to resign."

Rev. Martin L. King, Jr.
309 South Jackson Street
Montgomery, Alabama

Dear Rev. King:

First, I would like to say that I am most pleased to know that the recent meeting of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference was a success; and that your plans for the future, in connection therewith, are even brighter.

I am very highly honored to have had the opportunity to serve, for the past recent months, as assistant secretary to the conference, however, because of my manifold duties as a staff member of the N.A.A.C.P., and the policies of the N.A.A.C.P. regarding staff members functioning officially in other prominent organizations, I hereby request to be relieved immediately of my official position as assistant secretary to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

I hope that you will understand my position, and be assured that I will be happy to cooperate in whatever way possible to gain for our people first-class citizenship.

With sincere wishes, I remain

Respectfully yours,
Medgar W. Evers

MWE:mes

1. Evers enclosed a copy of this letter in a 20 August letter to Wilkins in which he confirmed that he did not attend the August SCLC meeting: "Again I repeat, I did not attend the recent meeting after having talked with you in New York.”

Source: NAACPP-DLC, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Papers, 1909-1955, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

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