Percy Green II, a St. Louis native of the Compton Hill area, became widely known as an activist when he, along with Richard Daly, scaled the Gateway Arch in July of 1964. “The more progressive element of the organization [CORE-the Congress On Racial Equality] decided to do that because they protested that the city used federal money to build the monument without blacks getting a fair share of the contracts or the jobs.
As the founder of ACTION, Green advocated for better jobs for black African Americans. The group targeted companies such as Wonder Bread, Southwestern Bell, Laclede Gas and Union Electric (now Ameren UE). The CEOs of the organizations belonged to the exclusive Veiled Prophet organization and ACTION members set their sights on targeting and disrupting the elite at their own highly celebrated function.
“We thought that [the organization] was racist, sexist & elitist,” Green said in a newspaper interview. “If the city was going to truly integrate, they should not have a Ku Klux Klan-ish event. That’s why we attacked it.”
ACTION’s attack on the Veiled Prophet organization culminated with an infiltration of the segregated ball in December of 1972. Debutantes who were sympathetic with ACTION’s cause provided white ACTION members, Jane Sauer and Gina Scott, with tickets to the gathering. While Jane created a distraction by dropping pamphlets near the stage, Gina maneuvered behind the VP of that year-John K. Smith, then-VP of the Monsanto Corporation, and snatched the veil off his head from behind.
After that well-publicized event, ACTION gained much respect and recognition for orchestrating a protest that magnified the elitism and racism in St. Louis’ upper echelon.
Green’s penchant for speaking out against injustice has not come without a price. Like many activists of his era, he was targeted by the government’s Counter Intelligence Program [COINTELPRO], and has been on the bad side of many local elected officials.
ACTION ceased operations in 1985. Green, a graduate of Vashon High School, continues to be active. He ran the minority and women-owned business utilization program for the Bosley Administration. In this capacity, he made sure that no “front” businesses (where a women or minority posed as the owner of the business, while a white man ran it] were given certification and he controlled the certification process, itself. He was retained by the Harmon Administration, but his role was reduced to certification.
Green was terminated by incoming Mayor Francis Slay in 2001. Green turned his consulting services skills toward making sure development in North St. Louis is handled fairly and he’s actively working to make sure a Civilian Review Board is instituted to oversee matters concerning the Police’s treatment of citizens.
Percy Green has fought for almost five decades for equality and Black inclusion in the St. Louis region. He has inspired countless activists, laborers, professionals and executives alike. Green is married to well-known activist and journalist Jamala Rogers. Percy Green III, his son born out of his first marriage, is a firefighter. Percy Green, a member of the Peace Economy Project’s board and actively involved in issues of social and economic justice, is clearly someone still willing to take ACTION when necessary.
