the vast majority of white people in this community, or in the whole state of Alabama, are willing to use violence to maintain segregation. It is only the fringe element, the hoodlum element, which constitutes a numerical minority, that would resort to the use of violence.3 I still have faith in man, and I still believe that there are great resources of goodwill in the southern white man that we must somehow tap. We must continue to believe that the most ardent segregationist can be transformed into the most constructive integrationist.
This is quite optimistic, because although many people are not ready to be violent themselves, most of the white population would allow or even advocate for violence from others (ex. police, lynch mobs, those in power). They are bystanders, they see violence and they do nothing to stop it.