Telegram outlining plans for First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s meeting in Bangkok with representatives from international organizations and voluntary agencies to discuss the Cambodian relief situation. It notes that the American Citizens Commission on Indochina delegation—including Bayard Rustin and Leo Cherne—had spent the past week assessing conditions in Cambodia and was recommended to participate in the meeting to share their observations and strong recommendations.
Bayard Rustin’s Delegation Visit to Israel Supporting Peace and Condemning PLO
Telegram documenting a visit to Israel by a delegation of Black U.S. civil rights and labor leaders, including Bayard Rustin. The delegation publicly supported Israel and condemned the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), with Rustin stating that claims of widespread U.S. support for the PLO were “disturbing the peace process.” The group received positive media coverage in Israel for their stance.
Bayard Rustin and Coalition Delegation Prepare Refugee Camps Fact-Finding Trip in Southeast Asia
Telegram outlining plans for a private fact-finding mission led by Joan Baez, including Bayard Rustin, Elie Wiesel, and others, to visit refugee camps in Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore in October 1979. The group aimed to document human rights conditions among Vietnamese, Laotian, and Cambodian refugees to raise international awareness. Public disclosure of the mission was to be delayed until an official announcement by Baez on behalf of Humanitas/International Human Rights Committee.
Rustin Requests for Meeting for Velma Hill in Senegal
Telegram from Bayard Rustin—consistent with his brand as a global connector and advocate for labor and civil rights solidarity—informing President Léopold Sédar Senghor of Velma Hill’s visit to Senegal (August 19–September 5, 1979) and requesting an appointment. Hill, Vice President of the American Federation of Teachers, was a notable labor and civil rights leader whose engagement exemplifies Rustin’s commitment to transnational activism and coalition-building.
Bayard Rustin Urges U.S. Action on Indochinese Refugee Crisis in East Asia
Telegram includes a press summary of major East Asian news covering Korean Peninsula tensions, Japan’s nuclear plant shutdown, the Vietnamese “boat people” crisis, and wider refugee issues in the region. Bayard Rustin is quoted calling for urgent U.S. intervention to assist Indochinese refugees, famously stating, “If US has to take them all, then take them all.” The summary also addresses economic developments in China, border conflicts with Vietnam, and humanitarian concerns in Cambodia and East Timor.
Bayard Rustin’s Commentary on U.S. Sanctions Policy and Carter-Muzorewa Meeting Featured in Media
US media reported on President Carter’s meeting with Bishop Muzorewa, emphasizing the continued US commitment to sanctions on Rhodesia. Editorials noted differing views among Black American leaders, citing Bayard Rustin’s recent article in Commentary, which warned of the cost to African democracy of undermining moderate Black leaders in Rhodesia.
Bayard Rustin Critiques U.S. Policy in Rhodesia: Press Briefing Insights
Telegram reporting on a U.S. Department of State press briefing outlining American policy toward Rhodesia. The briefing includes responses to questions about Bishop Muzorewa, U.S. recognition policy regarding Rhodesia’s political developments, and mentions Bayard Rustin’s critique of U.S. foreign policy. Rustin expressed concern that U.S. non-recognition of the Muzorewa government risked undermining progress toward democratic reform in Rhodesia and highlighted limitations in the administration’s approach to African liberation movements.
Bayard Rustin’s Commentary Featured in U.S. Media Coverage of Rhodesia
Telegram summarizing major U.S. media coverage of Rhodesia, including an adaptation of a Bayard Rustin article in the Washington Star. Rustin’s analysis, aligned with Freedom House’s conclusions, highlighted the fairness of the Rhodesian elections and urged U.S. support for democratic change. The media also covered debates around sanctions, the refugee crisis in Southeast Asia, and U.S. policy responses.
Bayard Rustin’s Role Clarified in U.S. Informal Contacts on Rhodesia
Telegram from a U.S. Department of State press briefing clarifying that Bayard Rustin, along with Al Lowenstein, is not a U.S. government representative but is valued for sharing independent observations from Southern Africa. The briefing emphasized that the U.S. maintains informal contacts with individuals traveling to and from Rhodesia but has not shifted official policy. The U.S. continues to oppose Rhodesian military actions in neighboring countries and urges all parties toward reconciliation through dialogue.
Bayard Rustin’s Report on Rhodesian Elections and U.S. Observers’ Assessment
Telegram relaying preliminary results and observations of the Rhodesian elections, highlighting a 63.9% voter turnout with some districts reporting turnouts exceeding estimated eligible voters. Rustin, as a U.S. observer, affirmed the elections were free and fair and emphasized the historic significance of electing a Black prime minister. He also questioned the inconsistent sanctions policies of the U.S. toward Rhodesia and South Africa.
Telegram on Rhodesian Election Turnout
Declassified U.S. State Department telegram from the American Embassy in Pretoria reporting on the first day of voting in the Rhodesian elections. It documents a heavy turnout—nearly 20 percent of eligible voters—with few guerrilla incidents and a peaceful student demonstration at the University of Rhodesia. Bayard Rustin, serving as an unofficial observer for Freedom House, is quoted praising the orderly conduct of polling stations and the enthusiastic behavior of voters.
Bayard Rustin Observes Rhodesian Elections
Telegram sent by Bayard Rustin reporting on the 1979 Rhodesian elections, where he commented on evolving Black-White relations under the new constitution. Rustin’s notes reflect on the challenges of transitioning from minority rule to majority governance and assess early signs of reconciliation and persistent tensions in post-colonial Rhodesia (Zimbabwe).
Bayard Rustin Intervenes to End Hate and Terror Campaign by Black Hebrews in Israel
Telegram summarizing a five-part series published by The Jerusalem Post on the Black Hebrews in Israel, highlighting their history, legal status, and controversies. The article notes that a “hate and terror campaign” conducted by the group and their U.S. supporters ended following Bayard Rustin’s intervention in November 1978.
Bayard Rustin’s Social Democrats USA Co-Sponsors Chilean Radical Party Leaders’ Visit to the U.S.
Telegram discussing the upcoming visit of Chilean Radical Party leaders Sule and Parra to Washington, D.C. While the U.S. Department of State declined to sponsor their visit, Bayard Rustin’s Social Democrats USA, along with the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee, agreed to sponsor the trip. These groups organized congressional appointments and a rally in New York City during the visit.
Follow-Up 1963 Telegram Demanding Federal Action in Selma Voting Rights Crisis
A follow-up telegram the same day demanded urgent federal action as armed white civilians joined police terrorizing African American demonstrators trapped in a church.
During the Church siege, local authorities and armed white civilians worked together to trap African American activists, exposing the deep collaboration between law enforcement and vigilantes in maintaining racial control. Despite clear violations of constitutional rights, the federal government was reluctant to intervene, reflecting persistent debates over states' rights and federal enforcement. The confrontation foreshadowed later federal action in Selma and underscored why why comprehensive voting rights legislation became urgently necessary in the years that followed.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Telegram, September 24, 1963. https://www.jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/september-24-1963.
