Felton Turner
Encyclopedia
Felton Turner was an African-American whose survival from a vicious attack on March 7, 1960, helped galvanize the city of Houston, Texas
during the American Civil Rights movement.
Turner was an 27-year-old unemployed awning installer in Houston who fell victim to the enmity caused by continuing sit-in demonstrations against segregation
. Those protests, coming just over a month after the first such actions in Greensboro, North Carolina
, had begun on March 4 at the local Weingarten's store by students from Texas Southern University
. Turner, who was not involved in the student's actions, was walking just a block from his home when he was abducted at gunpoint and transported to a deserted area five blocks away.
During the ride, Turner was continually hit with a chain for approximately 30 minutes. The most chilling part of the ordeal came next as he watched the men carve two sets of "KKK" (in reference to the Ku Klux Klan
) into his stomach, then hang him by his knees to a nearby tree.
Following the departure of his captors, Turner was able to free himself, quickly calling police. On March 15, 18-year-old Ronald Gene Erickson was arrested for the crime following a routine traffic stop.
The attack helped awaken the African-American community in Houston to the continued injustices committed and also helped gain support for the students actions, including expanding the sit-ins to the downtown's Walgreens
stores. Over the next three years, virtually all businesses in downtown Houston were desegregated.
A 1997 documentary entitled, "The Strange Demise of Jim Crow
: How Houston Desegregated its Public Accommodations, 1959-1963," examines the Turner attack as part of the overall picture of civil rights in the city.
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
during the American Civil Rights movement.
Turner was an 27-year-old unemployed awning installer in Houston who fell victim to the enmity caused by continuing sit-in demonstrations against segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
. Those protests, coming just over a month after the first such actions in Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
, had begun on March 4 at the local Weingarten's store by students from Texas Southern University
Texas Southern University
Texas Southern University is a historically black university located in Houston, Texas, United States....
. Turner, who was not involved in the student's actions, was walking just a block from his home when he was abducted at gunpoint and transported to a deserted area five blocks away.
During the ride, Turner was continually hit with a chain for approximately 30 minutes. The most chilling part of the ordeal came next as he watched the men carve two sets of "KKK" (in reference to the Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
) into his stomach, then hang him by his knees to a nearby tree.
Following the departure of his captors, Turner was able to free himself, quickly calling police. On March 15, 18-year-old Ronald Gene Erickson was arrested for the crime following a routine traffic stop.
The attack helped awaken the African-American community in Houston to the continued injustices committed and also helped gain support for the students actions, including expanding the sit-ins to the downtown's Walgreens
Walgreens
Walgreen Co. , doing business as Walgreens , is the largest drugstore chain in the United States of America. As of August 31st, the company operates 8,210 locations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1901, and has since expanded...
stores. Over the next three years, virtually all businesses in downtown Houston were desegregated.
A 1997 documentary entitled, "The Strange Demise of Jim Crow
Jim Crow laws
The Jim Crow laws were state and local laws in the United States enacted between 1876 and 1965. They mandated de jure racial segregation in all public facilities, with a supposedly "separate but equal" status for black Americans...
: How Houston Desegregated its Public Accommodations, 1959-1963," examines the Turner attack as part of the overall picture of civil rights in the city.