Fifty Years Ago Today, August 5, 1965

Americus Whites

Ignore Talk Plea

The white leadership of this racially torn city today ignored pleas from Gov. Carl Sanders and civil rights leaders to sit down at a conference table and talk about their troubles.

Mayor T. Griffin Walker issued a one-sentence statement saying "this committee was formed by individuals other than the city council and county commission," and refused to say anything more.

New Brigade

The Army will activate an infantry division and three separate infantry brigades by early 1966.

One of the brigades will be activated at Fort Benning in February of next year.

The new division will be formed in December, but no location has yet been announced.

Vote Bill

President Johnson will revive a historic practice and sign the voting rights bill at the Capitol Friday, the White House announced today.

Prior to the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, some presidents went to Capitol Hill to sign unusually important legislation.

This story was originally published August 4, 2015 at 12:05 PM with the headline "Fifty Years Ago Today, August 5, 1965 ."