Bogalusa to Baton Rouge March
Despite the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the struggle for equality continued. On August 10, 1967, Bogalusa civil rights activist A.Z. Young, with Robert "Bob" Hicks and Gayle Jenkins, led the march from Bogalusa to Baton Rouge where he planned to present a list of grievances to Governor John McKeithen on the steps of the state capitol. Referred as the 105-Mile Gauntlet, the marchers faced substantial opposition along the way. By the time the marchers arrived at the state capitol, their number had grown from 25 to 600, with protection from over 2,200 National Guardsmen and policemen. In his speech on the capitol steps, Young voiced complaints about employment discrimination and called for the election of 10 blacks running for local offices in Bogalusa. The protesters' efforts were ultimately successful, leading to better hiring and voting practices.