Greene County Democrat

Tag: Civil Rights

  • Courthouse Commemoration ensures Civil Rights legacies carry on

    Courthouse Commemoration ensures Civil Rights legacies carry on

    by Managing Editor Maya Quinn

    This past Sunday, April 5th, Spiver Gordon held a commemoration program to honor civil rights leaders in observance of the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination. The program was held in the William M. Branch courthouse, a building rich with its own civil rights history. Dr. Carolyn Branch set the occasion with her passionate talk about local, national, and international connections to MLK’s legacy to our nation’s current political struggles, such as voting rights.

    John Zippert began the presentations by introducing the audience to Joanne Bland. Bland is known as the youngest civil rights activist to have ever been jailed at eight years old alongside her grandmother, who was attempting to register to vote. After this instance, Bland was jailed thirteen times by the age of eleven during further demonstrations against the administration keeping Black adults from voting. Zippert highlighted her remarkable activism in Selma, Alabama, during Bloody Sunday and for bringing MLK and the SCLC into the Selma Voting Rights struggle. She’d been honored for her commitments to civil rights by Representative Terry Sewell on the House Floor when she passed away on February 19, 2026. 

    Rev. Dr. William M. Branch, III, spoke about his father, William Branch, the namesake of the courthouse. He honored him for his kindness towards White citizens, even during the height of the Voting Rights Movement in Greene County. Branch was certain that kindness toward everyone would ultimately result in a civil and peaceful path forward in today’s political climate.

    Dr. Monty Thornburg gave remarks about Dr. Brown by providing a photo booklet titled “50 Years of Exile”. The document highlighted foot soldiers like Robert Brown, Spiver Gordon, and Lorenzo French, who were attacked in an attempt to erase Black History. Dr. Thornburg also reminded everyone that Elder Gordon made Brown’s monument and the renaming of the Robert Brown Middle School possible in 2016, fifty years from when Dr. Brown was “exiled” to Tishabee. “We wouldn’t  be here if it weren’t for Spiver preserving all this history.”

    Elder Spiver Gordon recounted the work of Dr. Bernard Lafayette, a Baptist minister and civil rights leader who also played a role in the Selma Voting Rights Movement. Lafayette founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) to mobilize students with peaceful and direct action protests like those demonstrated during Freedom Summer of 1964. Elder Gordon recalled moments where Lafayette was called derogatory caricatures like Uncle Tom, yet he maintained his composure and prayed for those disgruntled. 

    The final presenter was John Cashin, the son of the National Democratic Party of Alabama (NDPA) founder John L. Cashin, Jr. Born in Huntsville, Alabama, John Cashin Jr. was a dentist, civil rights campaigner, running for governor against George Wallace.  He led the NDPA to respond to regular racism in the Alabama Democratic Party that prevented Black citizens from running for office. His lawsuit against the Alabama Democratic Party was brought to the U.S. Supreme Court, which allowed a special election on July 29, 1969, to give Black citizens the freedom to become political leaders. Several presenters fondly remember Cashin for giving them their first airplane ride with an airplane that would buzz Spiver Gordon’s house to be picked up at the Eutaw Airport when he came to Greene County. The legacy of the Cashin family and pre- “Jim Crow” segregation was highlighted, along with John’s mother being a substantial civil rights leader as well.

    State Assemblyman Curtis Travis gave finishing remarks about carrying on the work of the civil rights leaders who were honored, and Rev. Dr. William M. Branch III gave a final prayer. This program and many others organized by Spiver ensure civil rights legends in Alabama are not forgotten. The tradition of sharing stories is essential in inspiring the current generation to continue the great work of their ancestors.

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  • Old But Gold: Stillman Recognizes James Joseph and alumni’s contributions to the Civil Rights Movement

    Old But Gold: Stillman Recognizes James Joseph and alumni’s contributions to the Civil Rights Movement

    This March, Stillman College’s Civil Rights History Project supporters and coordinators hosted a luncheon to honor the legacy of James Joseph and alumni who made instrumental contributions to the civil rights movement of the 1960’s. The alumni mentioned and in attendance exemplified Stillman’s commitment to serving their community by producing exemplary leaders.

    The program began with an introduction from Gordon Govens, associate professor and executive director of Social Justice Initiatives. He informed attendees that the Civil Rights History Project aims to create a gallery to honor approximately 350 Stillman students who participated in the movement. “This is life-defining work,” Govens stated before he detailed the need to expand the gallery to display the photos of every alumnus involved. Current Stillman students are researching records previously withheld from the public and oral stories. Govens and students hope to raise $150,000 for expansion and to continue the project, as older records and footage are in desperate need of restoration.

    Sara Smith, the first white student at Stillman College and organizer of the Civil Rights History Tour 2026, humbly acknowledged everyone in attendance. “I was just here one semester… it was so powerful to me, Susan stated as she recounted how the opportunity to march alongside black students changed her life.

    Following the welcome, keynote speaker Susan Taylor Batten, President and CEO of ABFE: A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities, took to the podium. She began by acknowledging former faculty member and U.S Ambassador to South Africa James Joseph as a “giant of a man.” Joseph helped initiate the local civil rights movement with the help of Stillman students. Joseph organized marches to protest segregation at the city hall from 1963 to 1964. After having his life threatened and surviving a beating by Ku Klux Klan members and state troopers, Joseph pursued a career in philanthropy that “changed the trajectory of philanthropy in this country,” by creating ABFE, originally the Association of Black Foundation Executives, with a group of Black professionals. The group promoted effective and responsible philanthropy by establishing pipelines and pathways into careers for people in Black communities who would otherwise be denied opportunities. Batten stated in her speech that Joseph knew the ABFE had a responsibility to lead and inspire others. Today, the ABFE continues to provide healing, hope, and reconciliation for those in economically disadvantaged populations.

    Historically black colleges (HBCUs) like Stillman developed teachers, lawyers, clergy, and leaders who shaped the civil rights movement. HBCUs provide a haven for black students, with ideals rooted in equity for others. “When you go to Stillman, you can do anything,” alumnus Terrence Brown began in closing, “Everything I learned about people and leadership, I learned here.” Brown is currently the Director of the 16th Street Baptist Church and Visitor Center, a multipurpose facility set to open in 2027, in Birmingham.

    The colors of Stillman College are navy blue and Vegas gold, chosen to represent stability, tradition, excellence, prestige, and high standards. As the only four-year HBCU in West Alabama, these colors adequately represent a university that prepares students to excel at uplifting their communities. Time spent at Stillman and networking with its alumni can ultimately change one’s trajectory.

  • Newswire: Civil Rights leaders and Congressional Black Caucus unite to challenge Trump Administration policies

    Newswire: Civil Rights leaders and Congressional Black Caucus unite to challenge Trump Administration policies

    During a recent gathering on Capitol Hill, lawmakers and advocacy leaders sharply criticized a series of policy decisions implemented since Trump’s return to the White House, as well as the president’s rhetoric and governing approach. While participants outlined broad areas of concern, they provided limited specifics regarding immediate tactical responses.

    Representative Yvette Clarke of New York, chair of the CBC, accused the administration of pursuing policies that undermine civil rights protections, restrict voting access, weaken social safety programs, and concentrate economic and political power among elite interests at the expense of marginalized communities.

    Throughout a series of strategy sessions, activists and legislators coordinated outreach plans and policy priorities spanning education, historical curriculum standards, healthcare access, immigration enforcement, and anti-discrimination protections. Participants described the discussions as both sobering and motivating, emphasizing the urgency of collective action ahead of upcoming elections.
    Several meetings focused on safeguarding voter access during the midterm elections, amid growing concerns among activists following a federal law enforcement raid at an elections facility in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Lawmakers also examined potential legislative and legal responses to an anticipated Supreme Court ruling that could weaken a key provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

    House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries signaled that a wide range of responses remains under consideration, including public demonstrations, organized boycotts, and expanded legal challenges. “It’s an all-hands-on-deck moment, and every tool available to the leadership collectively has got to be deployed to get this thing turned around,” Jeffries said following a press conference.

    The renewed mobilization comes as the administration continues efforts to curtail diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal agencies, higher education institutions, and segments of the private sector. Early in his second term, Trump signed executive orders prohibiting what his administration described as “illegal DEI” programs within government entities and organizations receiving federal support, alongside threats to withhold funding from institutions that fail to comply.

    Administration officials have also advanced initiatives aimed at reshaping how American history and national culture are presented in schools, museums, and public institutions. Concurrently, federal agencies have increased scrutiny of civil rights complaints alleging discrimination against white individuals.
    In response, civil rights groups and Democratic lawmakers have launched numerous lawsuits challenging anti-DEI measures. Recent legal developments included the administration’s decision to abandon an appeal of a federal court ruling that blocked attempts to deny funding to educational institutions over DEI-related policies.

    With Democrats currently lacking majority control in either chamber of Congress, oversight options remain limited, prompting advocacy groups to focus on litigation, state-level action, and grassroots organizing ahead of the midterm elections. Many leaders acknowledged that the rapid pace of policy changes over the past year has forced civil rights organizations into a period of strategic recalibration.

    Maya Wiley, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, argued that the administration’s agenda repurposes legal frameworks originally designed to advance equality. “This is about how this administration is using the tools we built as a Black community to ensure that all of our people are protected,” she said.

    Parallel efforts are emerging at the state level, where a coalition of civil rights organizations and Democratic attorneys general from fourteen states and the District of Columbia has launched a legal initiative to defend DEI and accessibility policies. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said the campaign aims to ensure that fundamental civil rights protections remain enforceable through coordinated legal action.

    The effort unfolds amid an evolving judicial landscape. Federal courts remain divided over race-conscious policies in hiring and workplace protections, while the Supreme Court’s conservative majority has already curtailed the use of race in college admissions and signaled skepticism toward race-based considerations in public policy.
    Despite acknowledging the scale of the challenge, civil rights leaders framed the moment as a defining political and legal struggle. Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, underscored the movement’s resolve, declaring: “We commit today to fight and fight and fight until hell freezes over, and then, I can assure you, we will fight on the ice.

  • Newswire: Legendary Civil Rights Icon C.T. Vivian dies at 95

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent
    @StacyBrownMedia


    Rev. C. T. Vivian receiving medal from President Barack Obama


    The Rev. C.T. Vivian, the legendary civil rights activist who marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has died. Rev. Vivian was 95.
    Vivian reportedly suffered a stroke earlier this year, but his family said he died of natural causes.
    “He has always been one of the people who had the most insight, wisdom, integrity, and dedication,” said former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, a contemporary of Vivian who also worked alongside King.
    “The Reverend Dr. C.T. Vivian was one of my strongest mentors in the Civil Rights Movement,” National Newspaper Publishers Association President Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., stated.
    “Rev. Vivian, like Martin Luther King, Jr, and Joseph Lowery was a visionary theologian, genius, and a leading force in the tactical and strategic planning of effective nonviolent civil disobedience demonstrations. C.T. has passed the eternal baton to a new generation of civil rights agitators and organizers. ”
    In a statement emailed to BlackPressUSA, the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks expressed their condolences. “The Atlanta Hawks organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Civil Rights Movement leader, minister, and author, Dr. Cordy Tindell “C.T.” Vivian. The City of Atlanta and the entire world has lost a distinguished icon whose leadership pushed the United States to greater justice and racial equality for African Americans,” team officials wrote in the email.
    “To inspire the next generation, Vivian founded the C.T. Vivian Leadership Institute in Atlanta, with the intent to create a model of leadership culture in the city that would be dedicated to the development and sustainability of our communities.”
    They continued: “Vivian also started Basic Diversity, one of the nation’s first diversity consulting firms, now led by his son, Al, who has been a great partner to our organization. We are grateful for Dr. Vivian’s many years of devotion to Atlanta and thankful that we had the opportunity to honor and share his legacy with our fans. The entire Hawks organization extends its most sincere condolences to the grieving family.”
    Rev. Vivan was active in sit-in protests in Peoria, Illinois, in the 1940s, and met King during the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott — a demonstration spurred by Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat to a white rider. The 13-month mass protest drew international attention.
    Rev. Vivian went on to become an active early member of the group that eventually became the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, according to his biography. Like King, Vivian was committed to the belief that nonviolent protests could carry the day.
    “Some thoughts on the Reverend C.T. Vivian, a pioneer who pulled America closer to our founding ideals and a friend I will miss greatly,” Former President Barack Obama wrote in a statement. “We’ve lost a founder of modern America, a pioneer who shrunk the gap between reality and our constitutional ideals of equality and freedom.”
    Rev. Vivian was born in Boonville, Missouri, on July 30, 1924. He and his late wife, Octavia Geans Vivian, had six children.
    With the help of his church, he enrolled in American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville in 1955. That same year he and other ministers founded the Nashville Christian Leadership Council, an affiliate of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, according to the National Visionary Leadership Project. The group helped organize the city’s first sit-ins and civil rights march.
    By 1965 Rev. Vivian had become the director of national affiliates for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference when he led a group of people to register to vote in Selma, Alabama.
    CNN memorialized Rev. Vivian, noting that, as the county Sheriff Jim Clark blocked the group, Vivian said in a fiery tone, “We will register to vote because as citizens of the United States we have the right to do it.”
    Clark responded by beating Vivian until blood dripped off his chin in front of rolling cameras. The images helped galvanize more comprehensive support for change.
    Vivian also created a college readiness program to help “take care of the kids that were kicked out of school simply because they protested racism.”
    “I admired him from and before I became a senator and got to know him as a source of wisdom, advice, and strength on my first presidential campaign,” Obama stated.
    “I’m only here to thank C.T. Vivian and all the heroes of the Civil Rights generation. Because of them, the idea of just, fair, inclusive, and generous America came closer into focus. The trails they blazed gave today’s generation of activists and marchers a road map to tag in and finish the journey.”