photo of Arthur Harris, South Jamaica CORE

photo of Arthur Harris, South Jamaica CORE

South Jamaica CORE

This is a photo of South Jamaica CORE member Arthur Harris. He was one of the original group of Queens CORE members to secede and form South Jamaica CORE.

Harris was also one of the six CORE members arrested at the start of the Harlem riots in 1964

In June of 1967, he was part of a group from the the Jamaica Rifle and Pistol Club, Inc. ‘charged with conspiracy to commit arson and anarchy as part of an alleged “black revolutionary” plot’. Along with SJ CORE member Herman Ferguson, he was also charged with plotting to assassinate Roy Wilkins, head of the NAACP and Whitney Young, head of the Urban League. Both were also members of the Revolutionary Action Movement and became leaders in the Republic of New Africa during their cases.

Both were convicted and sentenced to 3/1/2 – 7 years. At the time, Harris was 22 and a student at Queens College. Out on bail, both escaped to Guyana after their appeal was denied in December 1969. Harris left Guyana at some point, believed to be living in Europe.