Johnnie M. Chappell

In March of 1964 African American protesters demonstrated at Jacksonville hotels and restaurants demanding equal rights. On March 22, 1964, Jacksonville’s Mayor deputized 496 firefighters to combat “hit and run” groups of protesters who blocked business entryways and roads. The city exploded into violent confrontations between African American and white citizens. At least ten fire bombings occurred that night and over 140 people, all African American, were arrested. Against this background of civil unrest, the subjects, four young white Jacksonville men, drove to an African American neighborhood in order to find an African American to victimize.