Braden, Carl, 1914-1975

Carl Braden was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. Braden left school at sixteen to begin a career in journalism. In October 1954, Carl and Anne Braden were indicted in Louisville under a state sedition law by the Jefferson County Grand Jury after the house they purchased for a Black family (Andrew Wade) was bombed. The charges against Mrs. Braden and five other people were dropped, but Carl was held under bail of $40,000, tried and found guilty of sedition for having incited the bombing. He was fined $5,000 and sentenced to fifteen years in prison. His wife campaigned for his release, and, in 1956, after he had served eight months, the Kentucky Court of Appeals reversed his conviction.

In September 1957, both Bradens became full-time field organizers for the New Orleans-based Southern Conference Educational Fund (SCEF), while continuing to live in Louisville. They also edited the Southern Patriot, the SCEF newspaper. In this capacity the Bradens worked closely with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and the Southern Student Organizing Committee (SSOC).

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