Jones, Charles, 1937-2019

Charles Jones was a 67-year-old man at the time of interview, which took place at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was born in Chester, South Carolina, in 1937. He was educated at Biddleville Elementary School, West Charlotte High School, Harbison Junior College, Johnson C. Smith University, and Howard University School of Law; and was employed as an attorney.

Joseph Charles Jones (August 23, 1937 – December 27, 2019) was an American civil rights leader, attorney, co-founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and chairperson of the SNCC's direct action committee.[1]

Jones was born in Chester, South Carolina.[2] In 1961 Jones joined the Freedom Riders driving from Atlanta, Georgia, to Birmingham, Alabama; he was later arrested in Montgomery, Alabama. He led and participated in several sit-in movements during the 1960s. In 1966, Jones organized an activist organization called the Action Coordinating Committee to End Segregation in the Suburbs or ACCESS.[3]

He was a graduate of Howard University Law School (1966).[1] Jones passed the North Carolina State Bar in 1976.[1] He also served as the chairperson for the Biddleville/Smallwood/Five Points Neighborhood Association.[1][3]