Copy of a post on the UWPIAA Forum web site:
Ref: See the letter in the right side bar under "Special Pages" to read the words of one of the protestors. This post was written in response to a question by an alumni on a former site.
Hey, glad you found that article. Yes, I was there. This was one of the events I remember (so many are just a blur) while I was filming with Diarmid and PACEfilm (later called UWPfilm).
Earlier that evening, before the show, one of our African/American cast members found himself alone and hungry. He had miss-placed his Fraternity and the dinner being provided for a few cast members. Well, he picked one and walked in and asked if he could join them for dinner. They graciously said "sure" and fed him before the show. The thing was, this was an all white fraternity and had NEVER had a black person enter their doors.
The cast members noted that there were two entrance doors to the theater. We locked the side door so that everyone had to come in the front door. We also locked the smaller bathrooms so everyone used the same facilities. We couldn't do much about the separate drinking fountains though. Heck, they had permanent signs on 'em.
Later during the show I was in the pit area with my large French 16mm camera filming a few shots of the cast. Suddenly there was a commotion at the back of the theater as a large group of students entered the room streaming down each side isle while the audience sat there cautiously. What was going to happen next?? A slight hesitation in the group as they neared the stage. Mob mentality ruled and one-by-one several of them found their way on stage.
A few meager shouts were heard during the process, but nothing overwhelming as the cast with their musical instruments and microphones were dominant. We were nearing the end of a song, what next? What do we do? What can we do? A leader steps forward, takes the microphone from the finishing soloist, tells the band "God's Skin" hand signals for a semi-circle of multi-country costumed cast members to be formed around the black soloist.
"Now". Intro music instantly starts.
The group formed tightly around the soloist. A handful of protestors tried feebly to break through the wall of steadfast multi cultural cast members...their body language loudly said "gotta get that microphone"... but, it wasn't going to happen. They had already found a couple other mics and started to chant their protests but a quick soundboard operator killed each mic a second after it was snatched.
Chants died out as the spirit of the protestors waned. "What are we doing up here?" seemed to eminate from their faces. "We have nothing against these people". It seemed that they chose the wrong venue to protest the many injustices imposed upon them at "Ole Miss".
One-by-one they exited the stage. Their protest was over before it began. Unknown to us they were filed into "paddy cars" as they left the building. They were headed to the police station for prosecution. The cast director was asked if he wanted to prosecute. "No"
Thus ended our part in these folks dissent. Did we have an affect on anything? I have wondered and asked myself that question a thousand times, maybe more.
Now, 30+ years later, I see that we did. It made a strong impact on someone. Enough so that an article was printed in the media about a couple of fellas that helped change the world to be a better place.
See ya, Mike