The Baton Rouge Swim-in

Baton Rouge has a rich history of African American activism, particularly during the Civil Rights Movement. One of the first organized events, the Baton Rouge Bus Boycott, took place June 19, 1953 through June 24, 1953. The Baton Rouge Bus Boycott influenced bus boycott movements all over the South.

The Baton Rouge sit-ins were orchestrated by Southern University students involved with Congress on Racial Equality (CORE) and the student body government. Religious leaders such as Rev. T.J. Jemison also participated in the event. These students staged sit-ins at the Kress lunch counter in downtown Baton Rouge on March 28, 1960 and also at the Greyhound station and Sitman's Lunch Counter on March 29, 1960. The students were all arrested for disturbing the peace and bail was set at $1,500 dollars each.

On March 31, 1960, approximately 2000 Southern University students left their classrooms and marched to the State Capitol building to protest the arrest of the 23 Southern University students for the lunch counter sit-ins.

1962 shepherded the beginning of the end of lawful segregation. Integration was attempted at public schools and also at public pools and facilities in Baton Rouge.

The only public swimming pool in Baton Rouge during the 1940s was the City Park pool, and like most public facilities at that time, White only. African Americans had to find somewhere else to swim.

With no other options, African American children often swam in the Mississippi River, creeks, and drainage ditches. One such ditch earned the name "Graveyard Creek" due to it's close proximity to a graveyard. This proved to be dangerous as these waterways attracted snakes and strong currents. Many of the children drowned.

The United Negro Recreation Association was established by Rev. Willie K. Brooks who advocated for a safe place for African American children to swim and meet. The UNRA was established in 1945 and by 1947, the organization had gained enough funds from donors and the city to build a community pool for African Americans.

There was a great deal of excitement in the community surrounding the opening of the pool. So much so that for the first couple of weeks time limits were set for how long individuals could be in the pool.

Both Whites and African Americans in the community agreed that there was a need for a community pool that provided a safe environment for the African American children in the community.

However, African American activists argued that because African Americans pay taxes they should be permitted use of the facilities created and maintained by those taxes.

In 1953, the UNRA donated the Brooks Park Pool to the Baton Rouge Recreation and Parks Commission. the agreement stipulated that the land must be used as a park to serve the surrounding population else it would be returned the UNRA.

Rev. Arthur Jelks came to Baton Rouge in the early 1960s to serve as the President of the newly formed Baton Rouge NAACP chapter. Jelks, along with other community leaders, helped to organize demonstrations to integrate public schools in Baton Rouge and the City Park pool.

The Bi-racial Committee was formed in 1963 by Mayor-President Jack Christian. Rev. Arthur Jelks and the NAACP advocated for a committee comprised of working-class activists and White leaders in order to work towards the elimination of segregation. Instead, the committee comprised of the city's "racial diplomats," or those who would not disturb the status quo, and the city's White elite. The NAACP is quoted as calling the African American committee members as "Uncle Toms."

On July 23, 1963, approximately 30-50 African Americans attempted to enter the City Park Pool to execute a Swim-in. The incident escalated after a lifeguard and police officers were injured. Five activists were arrested included Pearl George and her sister Betty Claiborne.

According to newspaper articles and the oral history with Pearl George, the police had been tipped off and were present at the pool before the activists arrived. The FBI was also present and seen taking photographs of the incident.

The day after the Swim-in, the Bi-racial Committee met but did not address the incident at City Park. This led to a demonstration led by Rev. Arthur Jelks at the City Park pool the next day. Jelks led 8 individuals, all caring signs, some that read, "The Biracial committee is sleeping on our rights." The demonstration was small, non-violent, and lasted only a few minutes.

Renowned civil rights lawyer, Johnnie Jones was the lead lawyer on the desegregation suit of 1953. After the Swim-in, Jones requested a hearing on the 1953 desegregation suit from U.S. District Judge E. Gordon West. In February of 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Louisiana law that required segregation of of public park facilities. Judge West was a segregationist that did not agree with desegregation of public park facilities in the state; however, the Supreme Court ruling meant that he would have no other choice but to rule in favor of desegregation.

Knowing that West would rule in favor of desegregation, the Recreation and Parks Commission closed all public pools indefinitely two days before the ruling came down in May of 1964.

The Recreation and Park Commission denied the closures were the result of the desegregation ruling. Rather, they argued the cost of keeping the pools open was too expensive.

Two years later the Recreation and Park Commission reopened five of the public pools--Anna T. Jordan, Gus Young, Brooks, Howell, and Webb. White segregationist groups like the Citizen's Council and the Southern Gentlemen and Citizens Council opposed the integration of previously White only pools. Opposition was so great in fact, both Howell and Webb Park pools (previously White only) were bombed a few weeks before opening. The Commission was able to repair the damage and reopen the pools.

The City Park pool never opened its gates again. The City left the pool vacant, still full of water. Many saw the pool as an eye sore as the stagnant water grew murky, attracted snakes, and caused a mosquito problem in the park.

It wasn't until 1990 that the pool was filled in with dirt and the old club house was renovated by its newest tenet, the Baton Rouge Gallery.

In 2005, Governor Kathleen Blanco issued pardons to Rev. Betty Claiborne and her late sister, Pearl George who had been arrested for attempting the Swim-in at City Park pool 1963.

Pearl George, who passed in 1997 went on to become a Metro Council member in the 1970s and 1980s. Rev. Betty Claiborne continues to advocate for African American civil rights and serves as Pastor at the Heard Chapel AME Church in Baton Rouge.

The smaller Brooks Park pool is one of the few public pools open today in Baton Rouge.