 By May 6 , the jails were so full that Connor transformed the stockade at the state fairgrounds into a makeshift jail to hold protesters . Blacks arrived at white churches to integrate services . They were accepted in Roman Catholic , Episcopal , and Presbyterian churches but turned away at others , where they knelt and prayed until they were arrested . Well @-@ known national figures arrived to show support . Singer Joan Baez arrived to perform for free at Miles College and stayed at the black @-@ owned and integrated Gaston Motel . Comedian Dick Gregory and Barbara Deming , a writer for The Nation , were both arrested . The young Dan Rather reported for CBS News . The car of Fannie Flagg , a local television personality and recent Miss Alabama finalist , was surrounded by teenagers who recognized her . Flagg worked at Channel 6 on the morning show , and after asking her producers why the show was not covering the demonstrations , she received orders never to mention them on air . She rolled down the window and shouted to the children , " I 'm with you all the way ! " 
