police force of Montgomery, Alabama and other southern cities. It stated that, “In Montgomery, Alabama, after students sang Country Tis of Thee’ on the State ‘My Capitol Steps, their leaders were expelled from school and truckloads of police armed with shotguns and tear gas ringed the Alabama State College Campus.” The advertisement later commented that, wonder that the Southern violators of the “Small Constitution fear this new, non-violent brand of freedom fighters…” In other words, the advertisement was attempting to create an image of peaceful protestors being forcibly and illegally put down by various police forces. Although no one was explicitly in the advertisement, Montgomery City Commissioner L.B. Sullivan was one of a few who believed that the criticism of the actions by the police force was a defamation of not only his reputation, but his position as supervisor of the police department as well. The day after the advertisement was printed, Sullivan wrote a letter to the stating that, advertisement charged New York Times “the him with misconduct’ and actions and omissions as an official of the ‘grave ‘improper City of Montgomery.” He then requested that the publish, full and fair New York Times “a retraction of the entire false and defamatory matter.” He also sent letters to four individuals whose names were included in the advertisement as a part of members of the Southern community who had endorsed it. They were all African American ministers in Alabama and they would later testify that until Sullivan informed them of the advertisement, they had never even known of its existence. Following Sullivan’s letter to the newspaper, the attorneys representing replied to him stating that, The New York Times are somewhat puzzled as to how you think the statements [in the ad] reflect on you.” “We Sullivan neglected to respond to this letter, and instead on April 19, filed a libel action in
police force of Montgomery, Alabama and other southern cities. It stated that, “In Montgomery, Alabama, after students sang ‘My Country Tis of Thee’ on the State Capitol Steps, their leaders were expelled from school and truckloads of police armed with shotguns and tear gas ringed the Alabama State College Campus.” The advertisement later commented that, “Small wonder that the Southern violators of the Constitution fear this new, non-violent brand of freedom fighters…” In other words, the advertisement was attempting to create an image of peaceful protestors being forcibly and illegally put down by various police forces. Although no one was explicitly in the advertisement, Montgomery City Commissioner L.B. Sullivan was one of a few who believed that the criticism of the actions by the police force was a defamation of not only his reputation, but his position as supervisor of the police department as well. The day after the advertisement was printed, Sullivan wrote a letter to the New York Times stating that, “the advertisement charged him with ‘grave misconduct’ and ‘improper actions and omissions as an official of the City of Montgomery.” He then requested that the New York Times publish, “a full and fair retraction of the entire false and defamatory matter.” He also sent letters to four individuals whose names were included in the advertisement as a part of members of the Southern community who had endorsed it. They were all African American ministers in Alabama and they would later testify that until Sullivan informed them of the advertisement, they had never even known of its existence. Following Sullivan’s letter to the newspaper, the attorneys representing The New York Times replied to him stating that, “We are somewhat puzzled as to how you think the statements [in the ad] reflect on you.” Sullivan neglected to respond to this letter, and instead on April 19, filed a libel action in
Mullins_Thesis.docx