Bayard Rustin is pictured with a lute he taught himself to play while imprisoned for his refusal to serve in the military during World War II. Despite the challenges of incarceration, Rustin used music to maintain morale and resist the oppressive conditions of a racially segregated prison system. His time in prison was marked by persistent activism against segregation and injustice within the prison walls.
Bayard Rustin Defies Draft; Goes To Prison
A 1944 article from The Chicago Defender detailing Bayard Rustin’s principled refusal to comply with the World War II military draft based on his conscientious objection rooted in Quaker beliefs and commitment to nonviolence. The article highlights Rustin’s arrest and incarceration, his defense of civil liberties, and his rejection of both war and racial injustice. This early act of resistance marked the beginning of Rustin’s lifelong dedication to pacifism and civil rights activism, showcasing his courage during a period when draft evasion was heavily stigmatized and punished.
