Demands of the Grenada Movement
Introduction & Background

Like all living things, social movements grow and evolve. When the Meredith Mississpippi March touches off the Grenada Movement on June 15, 1966, it is initially focused just on voting rights. But as the Black community begins to come together and shake off generations of fear, long-endured grievances and indignities can no longer be accepted as unchangeable realities.

July 9th Demands. As the movement picks up steam after demonstrations are resumed on July 7, the first set of demands are presented to the power-structure. Already the issues have expanded beyond voter-registration. The first 45 lines demand desegregation of everything that is still segregated in white defiance of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, demand #46 raises job discrimination for the first time, 47-50 are the original voter-registration issues, and tacked on to the end is a reference to police brutality against Blacks.

The name Grenada Blacks choose for their new movement organization — Grenada County Freedom Movement (GCFM) — is itself an affirmation of new, more militant awareness — it is explicitly a "Freedom Movement," not an "Improvement Association" or a "Voters League."

August 6th Demands. A month later, additional demands related to state repression against the civil rights of Grenada citizens are added to the July 9 list.

September 8th Demands. Under pressure of direct action by Grenada Blacks, lawsuits, and slow Federal enforcement, most segregated facilities are grudgingly opened to all. But as the movement moves on, it becomes clear that the real issue is power — political power and economic power. The new set of demands made on September 8 reflect this deeper understanding. In addtion to the previous voter-registration, police repression, and desegregation issues, now are added matters related to administration of justice, stronger and more specific employment demands, equality in education, that service organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce (where the real deals are made) be desegregated, that the powers-that-be publically announce that they will comply with national civil rights laws, and that movement-approved Blacks be added to civic governing boards.

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