On Aug. 27, 2011 the Union County Library marked the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders' trip to Monroe, NC with a presentation and commemorative walk around the courthouse
Monroe, NC.
What began as a peaceful protest by Freedom Riders and local black activists against segregation in August 1961 ended in a riot, gunfire and kidnapping case that thrust Monroe into the international spotlight.
Freedom Riders who marched before seething crowds at the Union County courthouse got a preview of the increasingly violent opposition they and others would face as they pressed for integration.
Fifty years later, the county library is helping honor this little-known chapter of the civil rights movement that played a role in momentous change.
The Monroe branch hosted a protest exhibit this month. On Saturday, the riot's anniversary, exhibit creator and librarian Patricia Poland will give a talk, then lead a ceremonial walk around the courthouse.
The city needs to understand the significant part it played in the civil rights movement, she said.
Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/08/21/2536919/walk-marks-freedom-riders-visit.html#ixzz1Wu1XSBTx
