Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 25 February 1993 — Page 25

The Muncie Times, Thursday, 25 February 1993, Page 25

After prison Cammxi became active in dvil r^its sirugg^

(from pg. 5)

most certainly expected to do so. But we still find people persisting, willfully, in the expedience of group domination, in the beliefs of racial supremacy, just to become advantageous at the disadvantages of others. They still can’t realize the duties of citizenship demands the obedience and subordination to a constant practice of equal rights, privileges, and opportunities, inside our borders.” Relatives of Shipp and Smith also attended the ceremony. Vorondia New-some-Hawkins, a cousin of Shipp, said “It’s a story you hear all of your life. People here, in Marion, that would have fought the injustice were scared and fled to Weaver (a black community 7 miles north of Marion) “I can remember my mother telling of how the only black officer on the force was sent home that day and told nothing would

happen...

“Although I didn’t know Tommy, he was a relative, a loved one, whose young life was ended without the benefit of trial. The story has been publicized often. I don’t like to recount it but it’s history. My mother used to fell me that the tree on which they were hung never bore leaves again, until it was cut down 10, 15 years ago. Now, our ffimilies want to be able to n^ove on.” James Cameron was bom Fd). 25,1914, in LaCrosse, Wis., to James Herbert of Vera Cameron. He attended school in Birmingham Ala., Kokomo, Ind. and Marion, Ind., graduating in May 1930. He voluntarily participated, in a self-improvement educational program of higher studies for years while incarcerated at the Indiana State Reformatory at Pwidleton, Ind., 1931-35.

Upon his release from prison he attended special evening classes at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Mich., where he became a machinist. He also attended evening classes at Wayne University, where he studied typing, shorthand, and accounting. Cameron has been a laborer, table waiter, construction worker, drug store clerk, laundry worker, hospital worker, salesman, janitor, shoeshine boy, coal truck delivery man, ditch digger, rug and upholstery cleaner, record shop owner, theater custodian, junkman and newspaper reporter. After 2 years study of steam combustion and airconditioning, Cameron passed the examination for a second class engineer’s license. He organized the Madison County Branch of the NAACP in Anderson and other chapters in Muncie and South Bend, Ind. He was Indiana State Director of Civil Liberties for the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World from 19421950. ton of Detroit since 1938. They are the parents of four sons and one daughter. They also have seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. He has been married to the former Virginia Hamil-

Melvin Miller, James Cameron, Judy Mays

Marion mob hangs Thomas Shipps and Abram Smith

James Cameron receives keys to city of Marion from Mayor Ron Mowrey

Joseph Smith, chairman of Indiana Parole Board, presents pardon to James Cameron