105 Miles to the Capitol

On August 10, 1967, members of the Bogalusa Civic and Voters' League led by A.Z. Young, Robert “Bob” Hicks and Gayle Jenkins embarked on a 10-day, 105-mile march from Bogalusa to Baton Rouge to present a list of grievances to Governor John McKeithen on the steps of the State Capitol. Their efforts led to less discriminatory hiring practices. Three weeks earlier, members of the same group marched 25 miles from Bogalusa to the courthouse in Franklinton, Louisiana, in what was the first nighttime march in Washington Parish history.