Freedom Summer

Freedom Summer was a civil rights campaign across Mississippi during the summer of 1964.

Freedom Day march
By 1964 only a small portion of eligible black residents in the Hattiesburg area were registered to vote, mostly due to laws designed to discourage or even prevent blacks from registering. A typical voter registration form required applicants to copy and interpret a section of the Mississippi state constitution chosen by the registrar (see a sample form below).

On January 22, 1964, a crowd of around 200 gathered in a light rain around the Forrest County courthouse. According to contemporary accounts the majority of the crowd was black, with a dozen or so white ministers from other (mostly northern) states participating as well. Four applicants were allowed inside the circuit clerk's office at a time. By noon on January 22, 16 had filled out applications. By the end of the day a total of 36 people completed registration forms. The voter registration drive and picket lines continued for the next few weeks, and over 300 people completed registration forms.

Freedom Summer Trail
The Freedom Summer Trail is a series of locations in Hattiesburg that were important during the 1964 Freedom Summer. There are also audio guides for each location.

Markers

 * 1) True Light Baptist Church
 * 2) Hattiesburg Community Center
 * 3) St. James United Methodist Episcopal Church
 * 4) Hattiesburg Ministers Union
 * 5) Woods Guest House
 * 6) St. Paul United Methodist Church
 * 7) Hattiesburg Public Library
 * 8) Forrest County Courthouse
 * 9) Vernon Dahmer Memorial
 * 10) Morning Star Baptist Church
 * 11) Mount Zion Baptist Church
 * 12) Bentley Chapel United Methodist
 * 13) St. John United Methodist Church
 * 14) Priest Creek Missionary Baptist
 * 15) Palmer's Crossing Community Center
 * 16) Kennard-Washington Hall