How about "An American Reunion" as the theme for next year's observance of the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act?
Let's invite civil rights movement veterans to come and enjoy St. Augustine -- without the KKK's bricks of hate, without Sheriff L.O. Davis' cattle prods nad pens, and Police Chief Virgil Stewart's police dogs.
Let's follow musician Roger Jolley's suggestions, and encourage churches to partner with churches (and other groups) to partner with others -- black churches partnering with white churches in fellowship, black clubs partnering with white clubs in dialogue.
Let's follow Roger Jolley's excellent suggestion and have monthly integrated marches around the Slave Market Square, honoring our elders who worked for Civil Rights.
Let's promote healing, starting with the Minorcan people. They were slaves, just like African-Americans. They were "indentured servants," a form of brutal contractual slavery that killed hundreds of their number before they walked seventy miles here from New Smyrna Beach in 1777, voting with their feet.
The Underground Railroad orginally ran south, to St. Augustine. It began here in 1687, when the Spanish gave freedom to any slave who would fight for Spain and join the Roman Catholic Church.
Under new management, our Ancient City of St. Augustine, Florida must focus like a laser beam on healing.
We are on the world stage now.
We have two (2) civil rights monuments on our Slave Market Square (WILLIAM B. HARRISS, a/k/a "WILL HARASS," our former City Manager wanted no civil rights monuments there).
We shall soon have a world class Civil Rights Museum, rivalling those in other cities.
Let's work tirelessly to achieve a St. Augustine Naional Historical Park and National Seashore, with civil rights one of its major components, including the only National Seashore with a civil rights component (wade-ins at segregated St. Augustine Beach and other local beaches). See www.staugustgreen.com
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