Tag Archives: Alabama Civil Rights Museum Movement

Greene County Freedom Day scheduled for July 31

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Johnny Ford

Alabama Civil Rights Museum Movement, Inc. will host the 52nd Annual Greene County Freedom Day Program, Saturday, July 31, 2021 on the Rev. Thomas Gilmore Square (old courthouse). Honorable Johnny Ford, of Tuskegee, AL will serve as the keynote speaker. “On Greene County Freedom Day, July 29, 1969, a Special Election was held in the county that elected the first four Black County Commissioners and two additional Black school board members, which gave Black people control of the major agencies of government,” said Spiver W. Gordon, President of the Alabama Civil Rights Museum Movement. This special election in the summer of 1969 was ordered by the United States Supreme Court when the names of Black candidates, running on the National Democratic Party of Alabama (NDPA), were deliberately left off the November 1968 General Election ballot by the ruling white political officials of the time. “The special election of July 29, 1969 allowed Black voters, many newly registered under the 1965 Voting Rights Act, who were the majority population in Greene County to have their say in a free and democratic election” Gordon stated. COVID 19 Vaccinations will be promoted at the event. According Gordon, he is arranging for individuals to get vaccinations at the program on July 31. A limited number of gift certificates will be given to individuals getting their vaccinations on July 31. Gordon stated that more information on the gift certificates will be provided at a later time.

Alabama Civil Rights Museum plans MLK Birthday programs

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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Spiver W. Gordon, President of the Alabama Civil Right Museum Movement of Eutaw, Alabama announced plans for celebrating the Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Greene County, during January 2021.
“Our plans have been limited, curtailed and changed by the raging coronavirus pandemic affecting our area, but we still plan to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., America’s paramount civil rights leader, in Greene County, during January.
On Friday, January 15, 2021, the actual day of Dr. King’s birthday, from 11:00 to 12:00 Noon there will be a drive through rally and luncheon at the Branch Heights Community Center. “We will have a short program on the outside and people can stay in their cars and we will distribute a lunch.
On Monday, January 18, 2021, the official holiday celebration for Dr. King, instead of our usual breakfast and march downtown, we will have a slow drive, starting at 2:00 PM at the Old Carver School Gym and proceeding through Eutaw, winding up at the Old Courthouse Gilmore Square. We will have a Freedom Rally at the Old Courthouse, where people can stay in their cars.
The birthday commemoration is sponsored by the Alabama Civil Rights Museum Movement, Alabama New South Coalition and Greene County elected officials. “We invite the public and all freedom-loving people to join us for music, food and fellowship to celebrate the life and legacy the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said Gordon.

Greene County celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with march and programs

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Marchers that participated in the MLK march from the Eutaw Activity Center to the William M. Branch Courthouse.
Rev. James Carter and Lorenzo French present award to
Rev. Carlos Thornton, speaker at the Unity Breakfast
L to R Lorenzo French, Rev. Snorton, Bishop Teresa Jefferson-
Snorton (receiving award as speaker at the Religious Women  
Freedom Rally) and Rev. James Carter.
Some of the men honored at the MLK Unity Breakfast
Women who were honored at the Religious Women Freedom Rally at the William M. Branch Courthouse

The Alabama Civil Rights Museum Movement celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the occasion of what would have been his 91st. birthday.
The Civil Rights Museum sponsored three programs to honor Dr. King. On Wednesday, January 15, 2020, the actual day of his birthday a program to honor and involve young people was held at New Peace Baptist Church.
On Monday, January 20, 2020, the 34th anniversary of the National Holiday in honor of Dr. King’s Birthday a Unity Breakfast was held at the Eutaw Activity Center, attended by 200 people. Rev. Carlos Thornton, Pastor of the Mt. Pilgrim Primitive Baptist Church in Tishabee, Alabama was the keynote speaker. A smaller number participated in the march from the Eutaw Activity Center to the William M. Branch County Courthouse. At the Courthouse a program to honor ‘Godly Women of West Alabama’ was held. Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton of the 5th District of the CME Churches of Alabama was the speaker.
The Museum honored a group of men and women for their service. The ceremony in the Greene County Courthouse was particularly poignant as it was held in the courtroom, one of the only county courtrooms in America, where a picture of Dr. King hangs above the judge’s seat.
Greene County was the first county in the South and the nation to elect all Black officials after the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that Dr. King worked diligently to pass.