St. Augustine, Florida Honors Civil Rights Hero Andrew Young Tonight and Tomorrow With Andrew Young Crossing Monument

Community to honor Young on Saturday
By JUSTINE GRIFFIN
Created 06/10/2011 - 12:00am
Summary:

In 1964, civil rights activist Andrew Young was beaten on the pavement between St. George and King streets during a protest turned violent.

In 1964, civil rights activist Andrew Young was beaten on the pavement between St. George and King streets during a protest turned violent.

The city of St. Augustine, with the help of many leaders during the civil rights movement, is honoring Young's work during the fight for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by forever imprinting his footprints into the sidewalk.

At 10 a.m. Saturday, the public is invited to the Plaza de la Constitucion for the unveiling of a monument to honor Young's accomplishments. He was a friend of Martin Luther King Jr., a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in the '60s and a past mayor of Atlanta. He won the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' 2011 Trustees Award at the Emmy Awards in February for a series of TV shows and documentaries he created.

"The local community is getting behind all the people who were instrumental in changing not only St. Augustine, but the country," said City Manager John Regan. "All of these people are coming back together like they did in 1964."

The monument is a 6-foot-by-25-foot concrete, granite and bronze sidewalk slab.

The city also plans to unveil a fundraising effort to help create a permanent civil rights museum in Lincolnville. The goal is to raise $15 million for what they hope is a 10-year project, said J.T. Johnson, a civil rights activist, past aide to Martin Luther King Jr. and the vice chairman of the local civil rights museum committee.

"The problem is we never went back to these towns that we protested in to correct some of the wrongs," Johnson said. "We're doing some of that healing here. . .and hope that this changes attitudes all over the country."

Johnson integrated the Monson Motor Lodge Pool when acid was poured into it. In April 2010, he swam alongside Young, Mayor Joe Boles and sharks at the Atlanta Seaquarium in a symbolic move to bring attention to the documentary "Crossing in St. Augustine" by Andrew Young Presents. It was featured at the Atlanta Film Festival.

Several events will take place this weekend in honor of local civil rights history. Young will have a private dinner with retired U.S. Sen. George McGovern. Their conversations will be taped as part of an upcoming documentary through Andrew Young Presents.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

* DVD and book signing with Andrew Young: 4 to 7 p.m. tonight at the Casa Monica. The free event is open to the public.

* Dedication of the monument: 10 a.m. Saturday at the Plaza de la Constitucion. A stage will be near the intersection St. George and King streets.
justine.griffin@staugustine.com