TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Hillsborough County and the Metropolis of Tampa are paying tribute to those that had been courageous sufficient to assist with desegregation efforts.
Thursday, county and metropolis leaders honored them forward of the 65-year mark for the reason that Woolworth sit-in in Downtown Tampa.
A type of contributors was former State Sen. Athenia Joyner.
“So many in our neighborhood are unaware of what happened in Downtown Tampa on February 29,1960 proper at this very web site,” Joyner mentioned.
A long time later, Joyner returned as soon as once more the constructing close to East Polk and North Franklin streets. It’s the location of the previous F.W. Woolworth Retailer.
Joyner stood alongside a number of different contributors, like Clarence Fort, who’s credited as main the trouble.
“It is a good feeling being right here and figuring out that I used to be round and nonetheless dwelling to see this occurring right now,” Fort mentioned.
Fort is the important thing organizer who led a bunch of Middleton and Blake highschool college students to peacefully protest over unfair remedy due to their race.
“I am simply glad I may assist change issues again in these days. There weren’t too many issues we may do again then,” Fort mentioned.
Throughout a ceremony outdoors the constructing, county and metropolis leaders thanked these survivors for his or her actions. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor was one in every of them.
“As mayor of the best metropolis on the planet, I do hereby proclaim March 1, 2025 as Woolworth sit-in anniversary day,” Castor mentioned.
Hillsborough Commissioner Harry Cohen additionally offered an identical proclamation.
Even by means of well being points later in life, John Billups was alongside his former classmates to mark a second he’ll always remember.
“I used to be actually younger and I all I do know is that my pastor requested me to come back down,” Billups mentioned.
There is a stage play subsequent month known as When the Righteous Triumph. It is on the Straz Middle for the Performing Arts beginning subsequent week that tells the story about desegregation efforts at lunch counters in Tampa.
https://www.strazcenter.org/events/2425-season/rental/when-the-righteous-triumph/
