5 West 63rd Street, Room 1048

New York 23, NY

April 25, 1960

Patricia Stephens and Friends

Leon County Jail,

Tallahassee, Florida

Dear Mrs. Stephens and Friends, 

Your decision to submit to imprisonment in defense of your firm conviction that all Americans, regardless of their color, should be treated with equality and with the dignity that is inherent in their status as human beings, is an example of courage and of dedication to principle which, you may be confident, has earned the admiration and support of the vast majority of our people. In this uncompromising stand against intolerance, from which you will not be diverted even though you are subjected to the worst indignities by bigoted minds, you are demonstrating man's unconquerable resolve to live in freedom and without fear.

The human spirit attains a new glory because of your brave performance. Let us hope that your determined efforts to promote civilized behavior in the nation's southern communities

will not be in vain, and that you will emerge successfully from this crucial struggle on which defends the [?] of all our liberties.

May you all come out unharmed in this moment of crisis for our democracy. Good luck.

Sincerely, 

Ralph Gossman