Albany Movement Vice-President Slater King (1962)

In this WALB newsfilm clip from July 24, 1962, reporters on the steps of the federal courthouse in Atlanta, Georgia, question individuals about the day's hearing regarding the restraining order against the Albany Movement obtained by Albany city officials. Interviewees include Albany police chief Laurie Pritchett, Albany Movement vice-president Slater King, and Albany Movement president Dr. William G. Anderson. The clip begins with three or four reporters speaking to Chief Pritchett, wearing a suit; few of Pritchett's comments are recorded. Next, a reporter asks Slater King to comment about the day's proceedings. King replies that he considers it excessive for the city to have taken two hours to explain why the courts do not usually uphold injunctions issued against cities. King praises Constance B. Motley, New York attorney with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for her work on behalf of the Albany Movement. According to King, Motley quickly refuted the city's argument and demonstrated that the motions the city cited had been overturned by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and, in one case, by the Supreme Court. King reports that chief federal appellate court judge Elbert P. Tuttle plans to announce his decision on the case the next morning. Finally, Anderson and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. exit the building and speak to reporters. Anderson compliments Motley for using the cases cited by the city to refute the motion; Dr. King's comments are not recorded. On July 21, 1962, Albany city officials obtained a restraining order from federal judge J. Robert Elliott prohibiting Dr. Martin Luther King and leaders of the Albany Movement from leading pickets, marches, and other demonstrations in Albany. Lawyers from the Albany Movement appealed to Judge Tuttle, chief federal appellate court judge, who agreed on July 23 to hear a motion to reverse the temporary injunction. Judge Tuttle reversed the restraining order on July 24. C. B. King and Donald L. Hollowell, Albany Movement attorneys, were assisted by Constance B. Motley and New York civil rights attorney William Kunstler.