User:Sobamask2Y/Percy Green

ACTION (1964 -1984)
Percy Green was a founding member of ACTION (Action Committee to Improve Opportunities for Negroes). The organization was first established in 1964 and continued activity through 1984. ACTION focused on advocating and working for increased access to jobs offering higher pay for African Americans. They targeted companies like Laclede Gas, Union Electric and Southwestern Bell, now known as Spire, Ameren, and AT&T, respectively.

CORE
The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) was a national African American civil rights organization that aimed to resist segregation through nonviolent tactics. The St. Louis Chapter of CORE was founded in 1947 and began as a biracial organization, consisting of students, educators, lawyers, and even some veterans of World War II. Percy Green was a member of CORE until 1964 when he and 24 other members separated from the organization because they wanted to continue direct action protests. This separation occurred due to disputes regarding tactics used to protest, specifically whether to continue using civil disobedience or to employ new direct action tactics.

Other Activism
In 1969, Percy Green and ACTION identified churches that had financial ties with St. Louis utility companies recognized by ACTION for having racist hiring practices. ACTION used black paint to "blackwash" several white statues of saints and religious figures to send a message.

In the summer of 1970, Green and member of ACTION entered Southwestern Bell's headquarters equipped with molasses. The group poured in the lobby of the headquarters to stage a "stick-in", sending the message that the group would stick with the company until they changed their racist practices.