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'''Ronald John Thompson, Sr.''', known as '''Ronnie Thompson''' or ''''Machine Gun Ronnie' Thompson''' (July 21, 1934 – March 22, 2020), was a former [[Georgia]] [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[politician]] who was the first member of his party to have been elected [[mayor]] of Macon. Thompson served two controversial terms from 1967 to 1975. He was also a former [[gospel]] and [[Country music]] [[singer]] known for his highly [[conservative]] views on issues.

'''Ronald John Thompson, Sr.''', known as '''Ronnie Thompson''' or ''''Machine Gun Ronnie' Thompson''' (July 21, 1934 – March 22, 2020), was a former [[Georgia]] [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[politician]] who was the first member of his party to have been elected [[mayor]] of Macon. Thompson served two controversial terms from 1967 to 1975. He was also a former [[gospel]] and [[Country music]] [[singer]] known for his highly [[conservative]] views on issues.

In 1972, Thompson was a [[Republican Party|GOP]] candidate for the [[United States House of Representatives]], but he was defeated by the [[Democratic Party |Democratic]] [[incumbent]] W. S. Stuckey, Jr., scion of a wealthy Georgia family. In 1974, as his party's [[gubernatorial]] nominee, Thompson was trounced by Democrat [[George Busbee]]. A [[populist]] in political philosophy, Thompson was often at odds with his state and national moderate Republican leadership. However, during [[Watergate]] he was a staunch defender of embattled [[U.S. President]] [[Richard M. Nixon]], no particular favorite of many conservative Republicans.

In 1972, Thompson was a [[Republican Party|GOP]] candidate for the [[United States House of Representatives]], but he was defeated by the [[Democratic Party |Democratic]] [[incumbent]] W. S. Stuckey, Jr., scion of a wealthy Georgia family. In 1974, as his party's [[Governor|gubernatorial]] nominee, Thompson was trounced by Democrat [[George Busbee]]. A [[populist]] in political philosophy, Thompson was often at odds with his state and national moderate Republican leadership. However, during [[Watergate]] he was a staunch defender of embattled [[U.S. President]] [[Richard M. Nixon]], no particular favorite of many conservative Republicans.

Buddy Kelly Moore (1951-1998),<ref name=ssdi>http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi</ref> who completed a [[master of arts]] [[thesis]] on Thompson's career in 1976 at [[Georgia College & State University]] in [[Milledgeville, Georgia|Milledgeville]], determined that the Maconite "shocked and fascinated observers with hard-line approaches to law-and-order, [[municipal]] [[organized labor|unionism]], and race relations." Moore defined Thompson's career in terms of a "predilection for the flamboyant."<ref>Buddy Kelly Moore, '''Machine Gun Ronnie' Thompson" A Political Biography'', Georgia College at Milledgeville, Master's thesis, August 1976, p. vi</ref> Unconventional [[author]] Will D. Campbell called Thompson "a harbinger of the [[New Right]]", a movement which emerged in the late [[1970s]] to help to elect Republican [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of [[California]] as [[U.S. President]].<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=su2g0MFHfpgC&pg=RA1-PA191&lpg=RA1-PA191&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=5ttPFo0eCj&sig=JwKBOrK4ZnE27_NX2uOT9IjfSjw&hl=en#PRA1-PA140,M1</ref>

Buddy Kelly Moore (1951-1998), who completed a [[master of arts]] [[thesis]] on Thompson's career in 1976 at [[Georgia College & State University]] in [[Milledgeville, Georgia|Milledgeville]], determined that the Maconite "shocked and fascinated observers with hard-line approaches to law-and-order, [[municipal]] [[organized labor|unionism]], and race relations." Moore defined Thompson's career in terms of a "predilection for the flamboyant."<ref>Buddy Kelly Moore, '''Machine Gun Ronnie' Thompson" A Political Biography'', Georgia College at Milledgeville, Master's thesis, August 1976, p. vi</ref> Unconventional [[author]] Will D. Campbell called Thompson "a harbinger of the [[New Right]]", a movement which emerged in the late [[1970s]] to help to elect Republican [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of [[California]] as [[U.S. President]].<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=su2g0MFHfpgC&pg=RA1-PA191&lpg=RA1-PA191&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=5ttPFo0eCj&sig=JwKBOrK4ZnE27_NX2uOT9IjfSjw&hl=en#PRA1-PA140,M1</ref>

==Early years, family, education, business==

==Early years, family, education, business==

Thompson was born in Augusta in eastern Georgia near the [[South Carolina]] state line to Remus Warren Thompson and the former Mattie Lou Watkins (1910-1997), a southern working-class couple. The family included two older brothers, Kenneth and William Thompson, and a younger sister, Janice. Remus Thompson worked (1) in a cotton mill, (2) for Friedman's Jewelers in Augusta, having risen to the rank of credit manager, and (3) as a [[firefighter]] at the Daniel Field air base in Augusta. Mrs. Thompson and Ronnie, while he was still in elementary school, operated a [[restaurant]] near the military base.<ref>Moore, Thesis, pp. 1-2.</ref>

Thompson was born in Augusta in eastern Georgia near the [[South Carolina]] state line to Remus Warren Thompson and the former Mattie Lou Watkins (1910-1997), a southern working-class couple. The family included two older brothers, Kenneth and William Thompson, and a younger sister, Janice. Remus Thompson worked (1) in a cotton mill, (2) for Friedman's Jewelers in Augusta, having risen to the rank of credit manager, and (3) as a [[firefighter]] at the Daniel Field air base in Augusta. Mrs. Thompson and Ronnie, while he was still in elementary school, operated a [[restaurant]] near the military base.<ref>Moore, Thesis, pp. 1-2.</ref>

Originally a [[segregationist]], Thompson said that he had been reared to "believe in separation of the races."<ref>Roger Williams, "What Makes Ronnie Run", ''Atlanta Magazine,'' January 1971, p. 94.</ref> He also developed a resentment of the dominant wealth and power [[elite]]. He once said that he could not fully evaluate the overall status of Macon because "I'm from the other side of the [[railroad]] tracks."<ref>Margaret Shannon, "Can a Gospel Singer Find Happiness as the First Republican Mayor of Macon?" ''Atlanta Journal and Constitution Magazine'', May 25, 1969, p. 16</ref>

Originally a [[segregationist]], Thompson said that he had been reared to "believe in separation of the races."<ref>Roger Williams, "What Makes Ronnie Run", ''Atlanta Magazine,'' January 1971, p. 94.</ref> He also developed a resentment of the dominant wealth and power [[elite]]. He once said that he could not fully evaluate the overall status of Macon because "I'm from the other side of the [[railroad]] tracks."<ref>Margaret Shannon, "Can a Gospel Singer Find Happiness as the First Republican Mayor of Macon?" ''Atlanta Journal and Constitution Magazine,'' May 25, 1969, p. 16</ref>

Macon, situated near the geographic center of Georgia, was chartered in 1823 and named for the [[North Carolina]] statesman, [[Nathaniel Macon]]. The city contributed volunteers to the [[Texas Revolution]]. It was a temporary [[capital]] of Georgia after the sacking of Milledgeville in 1864 by the army of [[General]] [[William Tecumseh Sherman]].<ref>Ida Young, Julius Gholson, and Clara Nell Hargrove, ''History of Macon, Georgia'' (Macon: Lyon, Marshall, & Brooks, 1950), pp. 43, 48, 62, 88, 278</ref>

Macon, situated near the geographic center of Georgia, was chartered in 1823 and named for the [[North Carolina]] statesman, [[Nathaniel Macon]]. The city contributed volunteers to the [[Texas Revolution]]. It was a temporary capital of Georgia after the sacking of Milledgeville in 1864 by the army of [[General]] [[William Tecumseh Sherman]].<ref>Ida Young, Julius Gholson, and Clara Nell Hargrove, ''History of Macon, Georgia'' (Macon: Lyon, Marshall, & Brooks, 1950), pp. 43, 48, 62, 88, 278</ref>

Friedman's transferred Remus Thompson to Macon in 1945. Ronnie, then eleven years old, went on to complete grammar school and graduated in 1951 from Lanier [[High School]]. He then attended [[Baptist]]-affiliated [[Mercer University]] in Macon, the [[University of Georgia]] extension campus at [[Warner Robins]], and the since disbanded Woodrow Wilson Law School in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]],<ref>http://www.oglethorpe.edu/administrative/registrar/woodrow_wilson_college_of_law.asp</ref> but only for a quarter in each institution. Instead, he concentrated on his job at Friedman's, and at twenty-three, he became general manager for thirty-three stores in four southeastern states.<ref>Williams, "What Makes Ronnie Run," p. 94</ref> Meanwhile, Thompson in 1952 married a young woman named Nita; they later had a daughter named Ronita and a son named Johnny. The couple separated in 1972, and a [[divorce]] followed in 1974.<ref>Moore Thesis, p. 4</ref>

Friedman's transferred Remus Thompson to Macon in 1945. Ronnie, then eleven years old, went on to complete grammar school and graduated in 1951 from Lanier [[High School]]. He then attended [[Southern Baptist]]-affiliated Mercer University in Macon, the [[University of Georgia]] extension campus at [[Warner Robins]], and the since disbanded Woodrow Wilson Law School in the capital city of [[Atlanta]],<ref>http://www.oglethorpe.edu/administrative/registrar/woodrow_wilson_college_of_law.asp</ref> but only for a quarter in each institution. Instead, he concentrated on his job at Friedman's, and at twenty-three, he became general manager for thirty-three stores in four southeastern states.<ref>Williams, "What Makes Ronnie Run," p. 94</ref> Meanwhile, Thompson in 1952 married a young woman named Nita; they later had a daughter named Ronita and a son named Johnny. The couple separated in 1972, and a [[divorce]] followed in 1974.<ref>Moore Thesis, p. 4.</ref>

==Early political campaigns==

==Early political campaigns==

Thompson's first political venture was an unsuccessful race on September 27, 1961, to fill a vacancy on the [[Bibb County, Georgia|Bibb County]] Commission. Earlier, he had left Friedman's and opened his own jewelry business in Macon. Thompson reasoned, correctly as it turned out, that publicity from a campaign would generate new customers to his fledgling business. He finished fourth in a field of six but had been bitten by the political bug. The winner of the race, Andy Watson, polled nearly twice as many votes as Thompson.<ref>Buddy Moore, Thesis, p. 11</ref>

Thompson's first political venture was an unsuccessful race on September 27, 1961, to fill a vacancy on the Bibb County Commission. Earlier, he had left Friedman's and opened his own jewelry business in Macon. Thompson reasoned, correctly as it turned out, that publicity from a campaign would generate new customers to his fledgling business. He finished fourth in a field of six but had been bitten by the political bug. The winner of the race, Andy Watson, polled nearly twice as many votes as Thompson.<ref>Buddy Moore, Thesis, p. 11</ref>

Acting on the advice of his then friend, former Mayor [[B.F. Merritt|Benjamin Franklin Merritt]] (1906-1985), a commander of the Georgia [[National Guard]], Thompson in 1963 ran for alderman on the then [[nonpartisan]] [[ballot]] and unseated the incumbent Bert Hamilton, a Mercer University professor. Merritt, meanwhile, was elected mayor, having previously served from 1953-1959. On the council, Thompson took a particular interest in [[aviation]], used his aldermanic pay to finance flying lessons, and soon earned his [[pilot]]'s license.<ref>Buddy Moore, Thesis, pp. 11-12</ref>

Acting on the advice of his then friend, former Mayor Benjamin Franklin Merritt (1906-1985), a commander of the Georgia [[National Guard]], Thompson in 1963 ran for alderman on the then [[nonpartisan]] ballot and unseated the incumbent Bert Hamilton, a Mercer University professor. Merritt, meanwhile, was elected mayor, having previously served from 1953-1959. On the council, Thompson took a particular interest in [[aviation]], used his aldermanic pay to finance flying lessons, and soon earned his [[pilot]]'s license.<ref>Buddy Moore, Thesis, pp. 11-12.</ref>

On the council, Thompson differed with Mayor Merritt on many issues. The crime rate in Macon soared; municipal finance problems were so severe that the city had to borrow regularly; there were still 150 miles of dirt streets; city services were needed for newly annexed areas.<ref>''Macon Telegraph'', September 1, 1964, p. A14; February 16, 1966, p. A13; June 29, 1966, p. A1</ref>

On the council, Thompson differed with Mayor Merritt on many issues. The crime rate in Macon soared; municipal finance problems were so severe that the city had to borrow regularly; there were still 150 miles of dirt streets; city services were needed for newly annexed areas.<ref>''Macon Telegraph'', September 1, 1964, p. A14; February 16, 1966, p. A13; June 29, 1966, p. A1.</ref>

==Election as Macon mayor, 1967==

==Election as Macon mayor, 1967==

Thompson was named one of "Georgia's Five Outstanding Young Men" by the state [[Jaycees]], of which he was an active member. Members of the organization were believed to have played some role in Thompson's initial political success.<ref>http://www.geocities.com/macon_jaycees/history.htm</ref>

Thompson was named one of "Georgia's Five Outstanding Young Men" by the state [[Jaycees]], of which he was an active member. Members of the organization were believed to have played some role in Thompson's initial political success.<ref>http://www.geocities.com/macon_jaycees/history.htm</ref>

Though Thompson had in 1964 supported [[Barry Goldwater]] for the presidency, he did not declare himself a Republican until he ran in the first ever GOP primary for mayor in 1967. His intraparty opponent, Royce F. Hobbs, was an official at Mercer University and the favorite of the party establishment. Thompson polled more than 7,000 votes, compared to barely 1,300 for Hobbs. Thompson then faced incumbent Mayor Merritt, who had initially encouraged him to run for the city council and with whom he had quarreled as an alderman. Thompson's legitimacy as a candidate was enhanced by open endorsements from former President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], [[Senate Minority Leader]] [[Everett M. Dirksen]] of [[Illinois]], and then [[Governor]] [[Claude Kirk|Claude Roy Kirk, Jr.]], of [[Florida]]. Thompson used the slogan "Make a Change for Progress" and called Merritt a "do-nothing mayor" who engaged in "bossism" and "machine politics".<ref>''Macon Telegraph'', October 28, 1967, p. 4A; November 5, 1967, p. A1; Williams, "What Makes Ronnie Run", p. 96</ref> He called Merritt "a desperate man who will do anything to stay in office" and a "flip-flopper like his ideal, [[Lyndon Johnson]]."<ref>''Macon Telegraph'', November 2, 1967, p. A23</ref> When Merritt reminded voters that he had served on Eisenhower's staff during [[World War II]], Thompson replied: "It is true that President Eisenhower doesn't know me. [But] that's the very reason that [he] has publicly endorsed me, because he does know Mayor Merritt."<ref>Moore, Thesis, p. 22</ref>

Though Thompson had in 1964 supported [[Barry Goldwater]] for the presidency over [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], he did not declare himself a Republican until he ran in the first ever GOP primary for mayor in 1967. His intraparty opponent, Royce F. Hobbs, was an official at Mercer University and the favorite of the party establishment. Thompson polled more than 7,000 votes, compared to barely 1,300 for Hobbs. Thompson then faced incumbent Mayor Merritt, who had initially encouraged him to run for the city council and with whom he had quarreled as an alderman. Thompson's legitimacy as a candidate was enhanced by open endorsements from former President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], [[Senate Minority Leader]] [[Everett Dirksen]] of [[Illinois]], and then [[Governor]] [[Claude Kirk|Claude Roy Kirk, Jr.]], of [[Florida]]. Thompson used the slogan "Make a Change for Progress" and called Merritt a "do-nothing mayor" who engaged in "bossism" and "machine politics".<ref>''Macon Telegraph'', October 28, 1967, p. 4A; November 5, 1967, p. A1; Williams, "What Makes Ronnie Run," p. 96.</ref> He called Merritt "a desperate man who will do anything to stay in office" and a "flip-flopper like his ideal, [[Lyndon Johnson]]."<ref>''Macon Telegraph,'' November 2, 1967, p. A23.</ref> When Merritt reminded voters that he had served on Eisenhower's staff during [[World War II]], Thompson replied: "It is true that President Eisenhower doesn't know me. [But] that's the very reason that [he] has publicly endorsed me, because he does know Mayor Merritt."<ref>Moore, Thesis, p. 22.</ref>

Thompson unseated Merritt, 14,732 votes (53.1 percent) to 13,002 (46.9 percent). He lost seventeen of thirty-two [[precincts]], including the boxes in the [[African American]] community. However, the black turnout dropped in the [[general election]] compared to the Democratic primary in which Merritt had to go to court to qualify for the ballot. Blacks then constituted some 38 percent of Macon's population. In the 2000 [[census]], however, blacks were 63 percent of the municipal population. Thompson's greatest strength was in the [[blue collar]] section of south Macon. The Republican organization came on board in the last two weeks of the campaign and may have spelled the difference between victory and defeat for Thompson. It is also believed that Thompson benefited considerably from the unpopularity of President Johnson in Georgia.<ref>Billy Watson and Eric Welch, "How Did Thompson Topple Merritt?", ''Macon Telegraph and News'', November 2, 1967, p. A8; Shannon, "Can a Gospel Singer?", p. 18</ref>

Thompson unseated Merritt, 14,732 votes (53.1 percent) to 13,002 (46.9 percent). He lost seventeen of thirty-two precincts, including the boxes in the [[African American]] community. However, the black turnout dropped in the [[general election]] compared to the Democratic primary in which Merritt had to go to court to qualify for the ballot. Blacks then constituted some 38 percent of Macon's population. In the 2000 [[census]], however, blacks were 63 percent of the municipal population. Thompson's greatest strength was in the [[blue collar]] section of south Macon. The Republican organization came on board in the last two weeks of the campaign and may have spelled the difference between victory and defeat for Thompson. It is also believed that Thompson benefited considerably from the unpopularity of President Johnson in Georgia.<ref>Billy Watson and Eric Welch, "How Did Thompson Topple Merritt?", ''Macon Telegraph and News,'' November 2, 1967, p. A8; Shannon, "Can a Gospel Singer?", p. 18.</ref>

The law required Thompson to take office the day after the election. He faced a divided City Hall, as twelve of the fifteen aldermen were Democrats. The Macon power structure considered him an intruder. A number of municipal records were removed from the mayor's office on election night and burned though Merritt denied any collusion in the act. As a result, Macon passed an [[ordinance]] which requires municipal papers to be filed permanently.<ref>Shannon, "Can a Gospel Singer?", p. 19; Eric Welch, "Mayor Says Some City Files Empty," ''Macon Telegraph'', December 6, 1967, p. A1; ''Macon Telegraph'', January 17, 1968, p. 18A</ref>

The law required Thompson to take office the day after the election. He faced a divided City Hall, as twelve of the fifteen aldermen were Democrats. The Macon power structure considered him an intruder. A number of municipal records were removed from the mayor's office on election night and burned though Merritt denied any collusion in the act. As a result, Macon passed an [[ordinance]] which requires municipal papers to be filed permanently.<ref>Shannon, "Can a Gospel Singer?", p. 19; Eric Welch, "Mayor Says Some City Files Empty," ''Macon Telegraph'', December 6, 1967, p. A1; ''Macon Telegraph'', January 17, 1968, p. 18A</ref>

==Thompson and African Americans==

==Thompson and African Americans==

Thompson chaired the Macon City Council [[Library]] Committee, which quietly opened services to [[African Americans]]. "Not a word was said about it. We just did it. No big to-do. No press releases to inflame folks. and we started putting branch libraries in different neighborhoods. Nothing racial about it," Thompson recalled.<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=su2g0MFHfpgC&pg=RA1-PA188&lpg=RA1-PA188&dq=will+d+campbell+ronnie+thompson&source=web&ots=5ttOIp_gzf&sig=eS3tR54AnASFJxQ77eTFE77MsmM&hl=en#PRA1-PA189,M1</ref>

Thompson chaired the Macon City Council Library Committee, which quietly opened services to [[African Americans]]. "Not a word was said about it. We just did it. No big to-do. No press releases to inflame folks. and we started putting branch libraries in different neighborhoods. Nothing racial about it," Thompson recalled.<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=su2g0MFHfpgC&pg=RA1-PA188&lpg=RA1-PA188&dq=will+d+campbell+ronnie+thompson&source=web&ots=5ttOIp_gzf&sig=eS3tR54AnASFJxQ77eTFE77MsmM&hl=en#PRA1-PA189,M1</ref>

Most African Americans in Macon, however, opposed the Thompson administration. In 1969, Thompson blocked the popular [[boxer]], [[Muhammad Ali]], from fighting at the Macon Coliseum, which Thompson had helped to complete, because Thompson objected to Ali's [[Conscientious Objector]] status during the [[Vietnam War]].<ref>http://www.mindspring.com/~teeth/caution/macontg100years.htm</ref>

Most African Americans in Macon, however, opposed the Thompson administration. In 1969, Thompson blocked the popular [[boxer]], [[Muhammad Ali]], from fighting at the Macon Coliseum, which Thompson had helped to complete, because Thompson objected to Ali's [[Conscientious Objector]] status during the [[Vietnam War]].<ref>http://www.mindspring.com/~teeth/caution/macontg100years.htm</ref>

When racial rioting broke out in Macon on June 20, 1970, Thompson issued "shoot-to-kill" orders to [[police]] to stop [[looting]]. He drove a [[National Guard]] [[tank]] onto a Macon [[elementary school]] campus to intimidate would-be criminals . He authorized [[billboards]] in Macon warning that [[armed robbery|armed robbers]] would be "shot on sight".<ref>http://laughingwolf.net/archives/2005_08.html</ref>

When racial rioting broke out in Macon on June 20, 1970, Thompson issued "shoot-to-kill" orders to [[police]] to stop [[looting]]. He drove a [[National Guard]] [[tank]] onto a Macon [[elementary school]] campus to intimidate would-be criminals . He authorized [[billboards]] in Macon warning that [[armed robbery|armed robbers]] would be "shot on sight".<ref>http://laughingwolf.net/archives/2005_08.html</ref>

In midsummer of 1971, a racial crisis erupted when a black city employee was shot and killed by a white policeman, who a month later was cleared of [[involuntary manslaughter]].<ref>Robert Friedman, "City Votes to Pay Officer's Defense", ''Macon Telegraph'', June 30, 1971, p. A1; Grant Jackson, "Mayor to Keep Beck on Duty", ''Macon Telegraph'', June 30, 1971,  p. A3; Jackson, "Beck Case Dismissed by Jury", ''Macon Telegraph'', July 16, 1971, p. A1</ref> Mayor Thompson imposed a 36-hour [[curfew]] after several suspected fire bombings. He fired a [[carbine]] in the air, heard over police [[radio]], while he accompanied a police patrol.<ref>http://www.mindspring.com/~teeth/caution/macontg100years.htm</ref> He further angered [[liberal]]s by publicly discussing the "best type of bullet" to use against the criminal element. Critics called him "Machine Gun Ronnie", a [[sobriquet]] to which he did not object though he never handled a [[machine gun]]. In fact, he paid for his campaigns by selling [[memorabilia]] containing the name "Thompson" on model machine guns.<ref>http://www.rru.com/~meo/ga-folk/ga.5.html; http://www.civilrights.uga.edu/bibliographies/macon/mayor_thompson.htm</ref>

In midsummer of 1971, a racial crisis erupted when a black city employee was shot and killed by a white policeman, who a month later was cleared of [[involuntary manslaughter]].<ref>Robert Friedman, "City Votes to Pay Officer's Defense," ''Macon Telegraph,'' June 30, 1971, p. A1; Grant Jackson, "Mayor to Keep Beck on Duty," ''Macon Telegraph,'' June 30, 1971,  p. A3; Jackson, "Beck Case Dismissed by Jury," ''Macon Telegraph,'' July 16, 1971, p. A1.</ref> Mayor Thompson imposed a 36-hour [[curfew]] after several suspected fire bombings. He fired a [[carbine]] in the air, heard over police [[radio]], while he accompanied a police patrol.<ref>http://www.mindspring.com/~teeth/caution/macontg100years.htm</ref> He further angered [[liberal]]s by publicly discussing the "best type of bullet" to use against the criminal element. Critics called him "Machine Gun Ronnie", a [[sobriquet]] to which he did not object though he never handled a [[machine gun]]. In fact, he paid for his campaigns by selling [[memorabilia]] containing the name "Thompson" on model machine guns.<ref>http://www.rru.com/~meo/ga-folk/ga.5.html; http://www.civilrights.uga.edu/bibliographies/macon/mayor_thompson.htm</ref>

The Reverend Julius Caesar Hope (born 1932), a Macon black minister and the president of the Georgia [[NAACP]], contended that African Americans in Macon were tired of living with unfulfilled promises for so long.<ref>http://crdl.usg.edu/voci/go/crdl/dvd/viewItemc/wsbn63449-1-broll/flash/6517/2;jsessionid=7157AB6843F3D68E8CA43EC2ED1A0965</ref> Hope viewed Thompson as ambivalent toward blacks: "I think Mayor Thompson was a politician of expediency. I really don't think deep down within Ronnie Thompson was a [[racist]]."<ref>Buddy Moore, Thesis, pp. 34-35.</ref> Macon lawyer Virgil Adams, who was a teenager at the time of the Thompson administration, alleged that Thompson "damaged Macon's image. When it got dark, you (blacks) needed to be off the street. Parents wouldn't let us out of the house at night for fear of being locked up, beaten by police, or shot."<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=4qPZiyJZOkYC&pg=PA129&lpg=PA129&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=5vhIr1Ngab&sig=MehwVaKHcaJ3LUWqMi9OYP0eVpc&hl=en</ref>

The Reverend Julius Caesar Hope (born 1932), a Macon black minister and the president of the Georgia [[NAACP]], contended that African Americans in Macon were tired of living with unfulfilled promises for so long.<ref>http://crdl.usg.edu/voci/go/crdl/dvd/viewItemc/wsbn63449-1-broll/flash/6517/2;jsessionid=7157AB6843F3D68E8CA43EC2ED1A0965</ref> Hope viewed Thompson as ambivalent toward blacks: "I think Mayor Thompson was a politician of expediency. I really don't think deep down within Ronnie Thompson was a [[racist]]."<ref>Buddy Moore, Thesis, pp. 34-35.</ref> Macon lawyer Virgil Adams, who was a teenager at the time of the Thompson administration, alleged that Thompson "damaged Macon's image. When it got dark, you (blacks) needed to be off the street. Parents wouldn't let us out of the house at night for fear of being locked up, beaten by police, or shot."<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=4qPZiyJZOkYC&pg=PA129&lpg=PA129&dq=Ronnie+Thompson+(Macon,+Georgia)+&source=web&ots=5vhIr1Ngab&sig=MehwVaKHcaJ3LUWqMi9OYP0eVpc&hl=en</ref>