For context, I am from here and my parents grew up here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albany_Movement

So I had first and second level connections to people who were involved in the civil rights movement. My mom knew someone or knew who knew someone that could get me a call with almost anyone of influence in the Black community nationally. I went to school with a lot of their children - at least the 2nd or 3rd level connections.

The civil rights movement was very aware of things like this at the time

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FBI%E2%80%93King_letter

https://features.apmreports.org/arw/king/d1.html