1964 Billy Graham Easter Rally

Evangelist Billy Graham's 1964 Easter Rally or United Evangelistic Rally was held at Legion Field on Easter Sunday, March 29, 1964. Graham's crusade that year broke barriers of segregation by insisting that venues be open to all races without separate seating.

The Jefferson County Citizens Council and United Americans for Conservative Government formally protested the event, saying that "the planned integrated meeting at Legion Field is provocative in itself and doubly so in the face of agitation threats...we ask that you not allow use of city facilities for the proposed integrated meeting and to use every means available to stop King and followers"^1.. The Council did not agree to the requests to cancel the event.

The crowd of 35,000 was about evenly split between whites and blacks. It was reported to be the "largest integrated audience in the state's history." Anticipating the potential of violent protests, police heavily patrolled the streets around Legion Field. Birmingham police, Alabama State Troopers and plainclothes officers surrounded the field, spaced about 10 feet apart on the track. Meanwhile, Graham delivered a sermon on "The Great Reconciliation":

It is a wonderful thing to gather together like this in the city of Birmingham, in the name of Jesus Christ, on Easter Day. Somehow all our problems and difficulties seem not quite so great when we stand at the foot of the cross and hear Him say, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do'"^2..

Cliff Barrows directed the combined choirs. Platform guests included Arthur P. Cooke, J. L. Ware, John Drew, members of the Birmingham City Council and others.

Event staff counted 4,000 individuals who answered Graham's concluding invitation to accept Christ as savior. The national press, typified by Associated Press reporter Belman Morin, reported the event as evidence of Birmingham moving beyond the days of violent conflict over integration^3.. Council member Nina Miglionico noted that the success of the event as "indicative the city is willing to look at a problem and move ahead," despite pressure from reactionary groups^4.. Fellow councilor Alan Drennen counted the apparent lessening of racial tensions on that Sunday as perhaps the most significant event (or rather, non-event) of the year^5..

Notes

1. Bryant-1964
2. Wirt-1997
3. Morin-1964
4. Foscue-1964
5. "Drennen asks"-1964

References

• "Won't cancel Graham— City denies Negro parade request" (March 17, 1964) Birmingham Post-Herald via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
• Bryant, Ted (March 19, 1964) "Negro Religious Group Denied Parade Permit" Birmingham News via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
• Foscue, Lillian (April 3, 1964) "City Councilwoman Lauds City Progress" Birmingham Post-Herald via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
• Morin, Belman (June 12, 1964) "'A bright spot'— Birmingham: A year later" Associated Press/Birmingham News via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
• "Drennen asks police raise, veto and school bond issue" (December 30, 1964) Birmingham News via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
• Martin, William (1991) A Prophet with Honor: The Billy Graham Story. New York: William Morrow
• Wirt, Sherwood Eliot (1997) Billy: A Personal Look at the World's Best Loved Evangelist. Crossway Books.
• Miller, Steven P. (Winter 2007) "'Another Kind of March': Billy Graham in Civil Rights Era Alabama." Alabama Heritage. No. 83, p. 41-48.

External links

• Billy Graham Breaks Racial Barriers at billygraham.org