42 years ago today, a march toward equal opportunities

1966

June 11: Police arrest 22 of about 200 protesters picketing Doe Doe Recreation Park, a private, segregated amusement park with a swimming pool in Lawton.

June 16-18: Protestors march from the Capitol in Oklahoma City to the park, riding in a caravan of cars part of the way and walking the rest. The march ends with a large protest at the park and a pledge from Lawton Mayor Wayne Gilley to open negotiations.

July 4:Weeks of almost constant picketing at the park and at city hall culminate with 55 arrests after “voices were raised in anger” for the first time and a few punches were thrown, according to witnesses at the time.

Aug. 16: The Lawton City Council adopts a measure supported by the NAACP that requires private facilities to integrate, but adds an exemption for water parks, outraging the black community.

1967

Feb. 1: In response to the protests, the U.S. Department of the Interior grants $75,000 for the construction of a public pool in Lawton open to all comers.

June 6: Built with the federal grant, Olympic-sized Mattie Beal Park Pool opens.

1968

May 3: Less than a month after a federal court ruled the park did not have to integrate, Ben F. Hutchins Jr., son of the owner, announces his family will voluntarily integrate Doe Doe Recreation Park.