What a beautiful, historic day. There was barely a cloud in the sky on a cold day when power passed peacefully from the corrupt Bush-Cheney regime to President Barack Obama.
Hundreds of people celebrated the inauguration of Barack Obama as President in St. Augustine's Slave Market Square today, as local residents watched the inauguration on a Sony Jumbotron and two large televisions. All local news media were present, with two reporters and at least one photographer from the St. Augustine Record, and satellite truck from every single Jacksonvile TV station.
Rev. Ron Rawls spoke eloquently. Renowned guitarist/singer Elizabeth Roth sang, accompanied by her student singing group Outta Sight, from the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind.
The celebration marked the end of eight years of Bush-Cheney abuses of power and celebrated a new era of Barack Obama's presidency. It was not unlike an exorcism, in an historic place where slaves were once sold, and black people asking for equal rights were beaten and bricks were thrown at them.
This is our time and our town, and the bigotry of the past is history.
City of St. Augustine Public Affairs Director PAUL WILLIAMSON had threatened organizer Dora Lovell that there would be tickets,* suggesting that she change the location. On behalf of the Stetson Kennedy Foundation, People for Peace and Justice and other local groups, Ms. Lovell told them "no." (* Corrected, August 31, 2024)
Right-wingers and the City of St. Augustine government were bluffing.
Only a Rev. Russo, a putative protestant minister, and one other right-wing protester stood forlornly with hate signs and an effigy of Barack Obama in a white sheet at the northeast corner of the Plaza, watched over by St. Augustine's finest. One bore a sign stating Christians shouldn't support our President. Russo also protested at the June 11, 2005 Gay Pride event on Cuna Street, dragooning children to be bullets in hatemongering.
Like ghosts of 1964, the two forlorn protesters stood as a silent reminder of the hatred that once enshrouded the square as KKK held nightly rallies (encouraged by the St. Augustine Record).
The City of St. Augustine's proclamation was read by Mayor JOSEPH LEROY BOLES, JR., stating inter alia:
Whereas, appreciating the role of St. Augustinians in electing and honoring our next President;
Whereas, honoring the diversity of our city and our country;
Whereas, celebrating the historic contributions of the people of St. Augustine to the civil rights history of the United States of America and particularly the 1964 Civil Rights Act;
Whereas, recognizing the historic nature of the upcoming 450th anniversary of our City's founding, and the journey traveled by the people of the City of St. Augustine, from slavery to freedom;
Whereas, welcoming the historic 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, and the Vice President Joseph Biden, Jr.;
THEREFORE BE it resolved that the City of St. Augustine declares Tuesday January 20, 2009 to be "Coming Together..." Day and encourages people to join in celebration at our Plaza de la Constitución that day.
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