HISTORIC BLACK VEGAS: Perusing the Las Vegas Voice from July 16, 1964

BY CLAYTEE D. WHITE

Many people may not realize that as many copies of the Las Vegas Voice newspaper as we could locate were digitized and are now available online. This work was done by Lied Library at UNLV in the digitization department run by Cory Lampert. At random, I selected a copy of the Voice Newspaper from the month of July in 1964. Just the four stories on the front page drew me in. 

The Civil Rights Act had just passed on July 2, 1964 — outlawing segregation in businesses such as theaters, restaurants, and hotels. 

Just two weeks later, the lead article in The Voice screamed, “Atlanta Motel Asks Injunction.” The Heart of Atlanta Motel Corporation sought an injunction restraining Attorney General Robert Kennedy from enforcing the public accommodations section of the new civil rights law. Moreton Rolleston, president of that corporation, asked for $11 million in damages because he thought the new law would ruin his business. I wonder what happened in this case. This story alone shows how interesting history truly can be. 

The next article was titled, “Final Decision Due Tomorrow Night on Assembly Race.” Scheduled for the following evening, a final caucus of West Las Vegas citizens was to be held at the Western Cab office at 1400 North E Street to endorse two local candidates for the Nevada Assembly. United community support for the September 1 primary was being sought. Candidates were Autumn Keyes, Joe Neal, and Rev. Leo Johnson. It appears that this caucus was organized by the Nevada Voters League, led at that time by Attorney Charles L. Kellar. 

The article is loaded with rich information. Western Cab’s office was in the heart of the Westside business district! A woman was running for office along with Johnson and Neal. I had never seen the name Autumn Keyes. And the Nevada Voters League was still quite active. This organization had been revitalized by Dr. Charles I. West, who also started the Voice when he moved to Las Vegas in 1954. 

The third article, “Lutherans Approve Civil Disobedience,” was another out-of-state item that held great significance in Las Vegas. At their convention in Pittsburgh, the Lutheran Church of America approved civil disobedience of laws as a means of protesting racial injustice. The statement also called for the “initiation of programs within the church supporting Christian fellowship and lobbying for enactment and enforcement of legislation guaranteeing equal rights in all areas to all persons without regard to race.” This was the complete opposite of what was happening in the first article that took place in Atlanta. 

The last article announced application forms for the participation in the Boys Club Summer Camp in Lee Canyon. Community members could get applications at the Jefferson Recreation Center. A fee of $5 from each boy was sought for an experience that would actually cost $2,000 for the 100 boys. All medical services for that week would be provided by Dr. West and his staff. 

I want to read every newspaper in this digitized collection!