United League (social organization)
The United League was an African-American social movement in Northern Mississippi established in 1978, during the height of Ku Klux Klan activity in America. The United League’s president and founder, Alfred “Skip” Robinson, was moved to act against Klan activity and police brutality in the turbulent American South. Mr. Robinson was a brick mason by trade, but a charismatic preacher in practice. Through his leadership, the black communities of Northern Mississippi effectively temperate police beating, organized citywide boycotts, prevented black land and property loss, urged armed defense among its members, and elected local blacks into political office.
Alfred “Skip” Robinson was a formidable leader. Mr. Robinson was a brick mason by skilled trade; however, he was a skilled, organized, and charismatic civil rights leader. Robinson mobilized the black communities throughout northern Mississippi to act. Teaching armed defense and unified resistance tactics, Alfred “Skip” Robinson was the quintessential leader for the oppressed people in Mississippi. Under his leadership, the residents fought against illegal land grabs by the state and local governments, boycotted white-owned businesses that did not hire blacks, and rallied against the brutality of the local police and Ku Klux Klan.
Robinson and his followers fought against the brutality of the local police and Ku Klux Klan activity during the late 1970s and early 1980s in Mississippi. Blacks across Mississippi experienced brutal beatings, black land theft, and destruction of personal property.
According to Southern Struggle (1978), the United League was “like the movement of the ‘60’s, [the] demonstrations and boycotts raised demands for equality in hiring and education, an end to police brutality and murder of Blacks, and abolishment of the [Ku Klux] Klan…[However,] a significant difference is in the United Leagues’ slogan of ‘Jobs, Land, and Freedom.’ The League has been organizing Afro-Americans to win back the 9 million acres (36,000 km2) stolen from them by banks and agribusinesses in the last decade. To our knowledge, this is the first time since the 1930s that hundreds of Black people have united to fight for their land.” (REFERENCE MISSING)
In Tupelo, Mississippi: The members of the local community began marching in downtown Tupelo in 1979. During this time, the United League was active throughout the state. According to the Clarion Ledger (March 5, 1979, p.3A), Robinson said, “the League would continue its boycott efforts in Lexington, Okolona, and Canton [Mississippi]. Robinson said that charges of police brutality, which sparked the Tupelo protests, will mark Indianola and Grenada as sites for League activity.”
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