Joe Felmet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joe Felmet
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1978 photo
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| Born |
Joseph Andrew Felmet
May 31, 1921 |
| Died | 1994 (aged 72–73) Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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| Education | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| Occupation | Journalist |
Joseph Andrew Felmet (born May 31, 1921 – died 1994) was an American journalist and activist. He believed in peace and equal rights for all people. He worked as a reporter for newspapers like The Hartford Times and the Winston-Salem Journal. He was also part of an important event called the Journey of Reconciliation in 1947, which helped pave the way for the Freedom Riders.
Contents
Growing Up
Joe Felmet was born in Asheville, North Carolina, on May 31, 1921. As a young boy, he delivered newspapers for The Asheville Times. He went to Lee H. Edwards High School. Later, he studied journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating in 1942.
Fighting for Rights and Reporting the News
After college, Joe Felmet worked as a reporter. He was a conscientious objector, meaning he believed war was wrong and chose not to join the military. Because of his beliefs, he spent time in a special camp and later in prison.
In 1946, he became a leader for the Workers' Defense League (WDL). This group helped people who were treated unfairly. He was arrested in Florida in 1947 while trying to help African-American communities.
A very important part of Joe Felmet's life was his role in the Journey of Reconciliation in April 1947. This was a brave trip where people challenged unfair laws called Jim Crow laws. These laws made Black and white people sit in separate sections on buses and trains. Joe Felmet and others, including Bayard Rustin, were arrested in North Carolina for sitting together. They were sentenced to work on a chain gang, which was a very hard punishment. Many years later, in 2022, a judge officially cleared their names, saying the charges were wrong.
Joe Felmet continued his journalism career. In the 1950s, he worked for The Hartford Times. In 1955, he moved back to North Carolina to work for the Winston-Salem Journal. He retired from journalism in 1969.
He also tried to get involved in politics. In 1974, he ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. He wanted to stop wars. He ran again in 1978 for the United States Senate.
Joe Felmet was dedicated to helping others. He asked President Jimmy Carter and Governor Jim Hunt to pardon a group called the Wilmington Ten, who he believed were wrongly accused. He also asked President Ronald Reagan to end the military draft. He was even arrested once for trying to get people to sign petitions on a college campus, but the charges were dropped.
Family Life
In 1965, Joe Felmet married Marjorie "Margie" Halpern. Margie was a talented piano player and teacher. She taught at colleges and gave private lessons. Margie passed away in 1993.
Later Years and Passing
Joe Felmet stayed in his home after his wife's death. He passed away in September 1994. He had asked that no memorial service be held for him. Instead, he wished for people to donate to groups that promote peace, like the War Resisters League and the Fellowship of Reconciliation.
See also
In Spanish: Joe Felmet para niños
