I’ve spent the past couple of weeks sorting through my ideas and beliefs about “gun control.” In the process, I have come across several interesting historical artifacts. These have helped to contextualize the ambivalent & complicated relationship that many blacks in the U.S. have had with firearms.

I’ve briefly written on this blog about the fact that black freedom fighter Robert Williams started an NRA gun club in Monroe, North Carolina in the late 1950s. He did this in response to unrelenting attacks by local whites without any recourse from law enforcement and the government.

I recently discovered that Lewis Robinson, a Cleveland-based CORE organizer, decided to form a rifle club after the murder of a local civil rights activist. He immediately came to the attention to the FBI (of course). The agency began to monitor his activities and the spread of these gun clubs which Robinson named Medgar Evers Rifle Clubs (MERC). The National Archives offer several documents related to the FBI’s surveillance and investigations of these clubs.

Here’s how the FBI (citing newspaper reports) described the origins and activities of MERC:

Source: “The Plain Dealer”
On April 5, 1964, an article appeared in “The Plain Dealer” wherein LEWIS G. ROBINSON announced that plans were under way to form a rifle club, to be known as the MERC, for the purpose of protecting civil rights demonstrators when local police failed to do so. ROBINSON stated that the club will cooperate with similar groups in other cities, that the membership would be open to both Negro and white persons and that each member would be required to furnish his own rifle. ROBINSON further stated that club, members would wear Army fatigue clothing, Army type helmet liners, heavy boots and would make use of two-way radios. He stated the club members will be given training equivalent to Army basic training.

The article further noted that an organizational meeting would be held at ROBINSON’s home, 1402 East 120th street, on April 8, 1964.

On April 6, 1964, “The Plain Dealer” contained an article in which Cleveland Safety Director JOHN N. MC CORMICK announced that MERC will be kept under “close surveillance” to insure public safety. MC CORNMICK stated “we are prepared to handle of this nature, We will do our job.” This article also quoted representatives of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), a nationally known civil rights organization, as stating that CORE did not want the of ROBINSON’s purposed rifle club. The article further that ROBINSON had said that nobody wanted to see the rifle club get under way. He added, however, that “it is inevitable now. It will grow because of the breakdown of morality in this country.”

Source: “The Cleveland press”
On April 9, 1964, “The Cleveland press”, a local daily newspaper, carried an article which stated that a meeting of the rifle club was held at the home of LEWIS ROBINSON on April 8, 1965. The article quoted a Press informant, not further identified, who stated that between 20 and 25 men were present at the meeting, including four white men one of whom was a Minister who voiced a protest against violence and advocated peaceful demonstrations. The article further indicated that violence was discussed at the meeting and that ROBINSON did most of the talking. He stated that the plan for the club was to provide protection for civil rights workers which local police had not provided. ROBINSON described the purpose of the club as being solely for the protection of life. The “press” source stated there was no discussion or collection of funds nor were the names of persons in attendance recorded. The article noted that during the meeting ROBINSON displayed two M-l rifles which he stated were his personal property.

Source: “The Plain Dealer” –
An article in the April 10, 1964, issue of this newspaper quoted Mr. JAMES M. LISTER, Urban Renewal Director, as stating that LEWIS ROBINSON had been suspended from his job as a city housing effective immediately and “pending discharge” after a hearing. The article quoted Mayor RALPH LOCHER as stating that he had personally interviewed ROBINSON and informed him of his suspension. Mayor LOCHER indicated that he had asked ROBINSON what his intentions were with respect to the rifle club and that ROBINSON had replied that the club was to supplant the police department and to shock the community. The article quoted ROBINSON as accusing local news media of distorting his announcement concerning the rifle club. ROBINSON charged that the newspaper had quoted him as saying that the club already had a cadre of 50 instrutors. ROBINSON stated that this is not true, that the club has no instructors and that the activity thus far was “simply a group of people who were considering forming a club.”

More from the FBI records:

Lewis G. Robinson announced intention to form MERC on 4/5/64. One meeting of club known to, have been held on 4/8/64, but no further evidence is known that club actually existed during Summer of 1964; On 4/10/64, Cleveland Mayor RALPH LOCHER announced ROBISON was suspended from position as House Inspector for City of Cleveland. On 8/31/64, shipment of 400 rounds of 7.65 caliber ammunition mailed to LEWIS G. ROBINSON. Beginning in January, 1965, meetings of a rifle club held at JFK House, 8801 Superior Avenue. Club activities include arms demonstrations, teachings of judo, calisthenics and instructions in making “Molotov Cocktail.” Source reports ROBINSON attends club meetings but club appears to be run by HARIELLE JONES and ALBERT WARE, both identified members of RAM. The rifle club not incorporated in Ohio or registered with Ohio Adjutant General’s office. Club activities financed by selling raffle tickets and dues of 50¢ per week plus $1.00 initiation fee. Names of eight identified club members set forth. Club’s only known outside activity to date was service as bodyguard to DONALD FREEMAN when latter made public speech on 3/12/65.

Below is a copy of the FBI report where this excerpt comes from:

According to FBI records, in 1965 every Sunday, 15 to 20 members of Robinson’s rifle club would travel to a farm owned by a man named Lawrence Dozier (who is identified as a 6 foot black man born in 1910) & engage in target practice.