Mississippi Highway Patrolman Hughie Kohler became so enraged by the boy's defiance that he actually lifted little Anthony off the ground while yanking the American flag out of his hands.
At this time in our history, the American flag was perceived by Southern segregationists as a symbol for racial integration.
The picture was taken near the steps of the capital in Jackson, Mississippi.
Mama Quin, as she was fondly called in her hometown of McCombs, Mississippi, took her family to the capital with the intention to speak to the governor about the election of five Congressmen from districts where African Americans were not allowed to vote. Refused admittance, they staged a demonstration for voting rights on the side entrance of the Capital.
Anthony and his mother were arrested and hauled off to jail, which was a cattle stockade at the county fairground, since the city jails were already full of protesters.
Aylene "mama" Quin owned a restaurant (South of the Border) where the Black community held underground planning meetings. Her house was firebombed in September of 1964, just months before this image was taken.
A young SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) staffer named Mendy Samstein, who was staying in the McComb Freedom House at that time, said the following about Quin: “Mama Quin is kind and good to everyone, but more than that, she is a towering figure of strength. She can’t be intimidated.”
Young Anthony went on to a career in education, teaching high school and then becoming a professor. He passed of pancreatic cancer in his 50's.
Patrolman Kohler also has passed. His obituary in the Jackson Daily News referred to the photograph and mentioned how Kohler regretted that moment for the rest of his life.
The photographer, Matt Herron, won 2nd prize in the Photo Stories category at the 1965 World Press Photo Contest.
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