Citizen's Liberty League

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The Citizen's Liberty League was a political organization established in Missouri to advance the interests of African Americans in the Republican Party. [1] It addressed the policies of segregation, exclusion, and discrimination in the state. It was established in 1919 in Pythian Hall. [2]

The league was founded by George L. Vaughn, Joseph E. Mitchell, Charles Turpin, and Homer G. Phillips to promote and endorse African American political candidates and worked to secure a share of appointed public offices for African Americans. [3] [4] [5] [6]

The group helped elect Walthall Moore to the Missouri General Assembly. [2]

The group adopted a resolution at the Union Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church in St. Louis. [7] It was presented into the record of the Missouri House of Representatives. [8]

By the early 1930s, Vaughn had switched to the Democratic Party and advocated for others to do as well. Phillips was murdered in 1931.

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References

  1. Finkelman, Paul (July 27, 2009). Encyclopedia of African American History, 1896 to the Present: J-N. Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0-19-516779-5 via Google Books.
  2. 1 2 Wright, John Aaron (July 27, 2002). Discovering African American St. Louis: A Guide to Historic Sites. Missouri History Museum. ISBN   9781883982454 via Google Books.
  3. Israel, Benjamin (2008). Putting black in blue: The struggle to put uniformed African American police officers on the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (Thesis). OCLC   285526616. ProQuest   304377329.[ page needed ]
  4. "Missouri Digital Heritage: African American Initiative Timeline 4". www.sos.mo.gov.
  5. "Gateway Heritage: Quarterly Journal of the Missouri Historical Society-St. Louis, Missouri". Missouri Historical Society. July 27, 1995 via Google Books.
  6. Stein, Lana (July 27, 2002). St. Louis Politics: The Triumph of Tradition. Missouri History Museum. ISBN   9781883982447 via Google Books.
  7. Representatives, Missouri General Assembly House of (July 27, 1921). "Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Missouri at the ... Session of the ... General Assembly" via Google Books.
  8. Representatives, Missouri General Assembly House of (July 27, 1921). "Journal ..." via Google Books.