Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
COLFAX — It was on February 28, 1969, that forty-two students participated in a demonstration that prevented five Black students from entering the Whitman County jail to begin serving sentences on assault convictions.
According to a news article published by the Colfax Gazette on April 17, 1969, Carl Maxey, Spokane attorney, entered a technical plea of guilty for the students at the session, which began at 10:30 a.m. and lasted less than an hour in the superior courtroom at the courthouse.
“I have a feeling some of these people did not exactly understand what they were doing when they came over here on the 28th of February,” said Judge Evans Bunker before reportedly announcing the sentence.
According to the article, Bunker said he believed the students were misinformed about the superior court trial of the five students who were convicted on February 27, 1969, of committing assault at the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity on the Washington State University (WSU) campus.
On Wednesday, April 16, 1969, the forty-two students who participated in a demonstration were placed on seven and one-half months probation.
Probation conditions required good behavior and restraint from unlawful assembly.
After pleading in district justice court, they were also fined $25 each.
Sheriff C. A. (Mike) Humphreys testified on the three-day demonstration, recalling how he saw students preventing their five “brothers” from entering the jail, taking sanctuary in the Colfax Methodist Church and later moving to St. Patrick’s church, where they were arrested with the five Black hostages.
Reports say Faris told authorities at WSU, Whitworth and Eastern Washington State College had assured him the students were not a “civil threat to the peace in the community.”
Faris explained he would not ask for jail terms against the students because most of them had served a day in jail following their arrest at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Colfax on March 1.
Reports say Maxey stated that after sentencing, most students were without funds to pay the $25 fine, equating to the purchasing power of $216.02 in 2024.
Those fined were given until the end of their probation period in January to pay the fine. Prosecutor Phillip Faris suggested this in court.
Maxey, who reportedly represented the forty-two students without charge, asked for the suspended sentence so the students could be allowed to return to their campuses and their jobs. Maxey said he was taking the cases as a part of a “program where there will be peace in the community where people will listen to expression of dissent in a lawful manner.”
According to the article, Maxey referred to the Kerner Commission and the state’s Kramer Commission reports on minority disadvantages.
He said the students, although showing “poor judgment” in breaking the law, had “reasons” for being in Colfax.
“They have read the Kerner reports and they have read Lud Kramer’s report,” said Maxey.
Reports say only sixty-five Black students were enrolled at WSU in 1969.
The defendants in court included twenty-six WSU students, nine Eastern Washington State College students and six Whitworth college students. Mrs. Robert (Johnetta) Cole, the WSU Black Students Union faculty advisor, was included among the defendants.
Olivia Harnack is a Journalist at the Whitman County Gazette. Olivia is enrolled at University of Idaho and is majoring in digital film studies. She serves in the United States Army National Guard and is proud to serve Whitman County.
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