U.S. Congressman John Lewis to Speak in St Augustine at the
4th Annual ACCORD/Northrop Grumman Freedom Trail Luncheon in July
2010 marks the 46th Anniversary of the Signing of the Landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964. This legislation was enacted by the 88th Congress, to enforce the constitutional right to vote, to confer jurisdiction upon the district courts of the United States to provide injunctive relief against discrimination in public accommodations, to authorize the Attorney General to institute suits to protect constitutional rights in public facilities and public education, to extend the Commission on Civil Rights, to prevent discrimination in federally assisted programs, to establish a Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity, and for other purpose on July 2, 1964.
U.S. Congressman, John Lewis, will serve as the Keynote Speaker at the 4th Annual ACCORD/Northrop Grumman Freedom Trail Luncheon on July 2, 2010, at the Casa Monica Hotel. The Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi has called Rep. Lewis "the conscience of the U.S. Congress." And Roll Call magazine has said, "John Lewis...is a genuine American hero and moral leader who commands widespread respect in the chamber." He is the recipient of numerous awards from imminent national and international institutions, including the Lincoln Medal from the historic Ford's Theatre, the Golden Plate Award given by the Academy of Excellence, the Preservation Hero award given by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Non-Violent Peace Prize, the President's Medal of Georgetown University, the NAACP Spingarn Medal, and the only John F. Kennedy "Profile in Courage Award" for Lifetime Achievement ever granted by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. As a student at Fisk University, John Lewis organized sit-in demonstrations at segregated lunch counters in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1961, he volunteered to participate in the Freedom Rides, which challenged segregation at interstate bus terminals across the South. Lewis risked his life on those Rides many times by simply sitting in seats reserved for white patrons. He was also beaten severely by angry mobs and arrested by police for challenging the injustice of Jim Crow segregation in the South.
While still a young man, John Lewis became a nationally recognized leader. By 1963, he was dubbed one of the Big Six leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. (The others were Whitney Young, A. Phillip Randolph, Martin Luther King Jr., James Farmer and Roy Wilkins). At the age of 23, he was an architect of and a keynote speaker at the historic March on Washington in August 1963.
The annual Luncheon is a fundraiser which supports the organizational efforts to maintain the ACCORD Freedom Trail and its ongoing projects. In addition, the organization will honor the heroes of the civil rights movement. The Second Dr. Robert B. Hayling Award of Valor will be presented by Florida State Senator Tony Hill to a deserving demonstrator who participated in the Movement of St. Augustine. The annual event aligns with the mission of ACCORD to Remember, Recognize, and Honor individuals who risked their lives to attain civil rights for all and celebrating St. Augustine’s pivotal role in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. A Freedom Trail Marker will be dedicated and unveiled at the St. Johns County Jail Annex at 9:15 AM on that day. The public is invited to attend.
Members of ACCORD are excited to have Congressman Lewis address attendees of this year’s event. Congressman Lewis is often called "one of the most courageous persons the Civil Rights Movement ever produced," John Lewis has dedicated his life to protecting human rights, securing civil liberties, and building what he calls "The Beloved Community" in America. In addition, Kathryn Fentress, Civil Rights Activist who currently resides in Bellingham, Washington will be our Special Guest Speaker. Ms. Fentress was arrested on the steps of the Monson Motor Lodge Restaurant on June 11th, 1964 along with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Ralph Abernathy, Clyde Jenkins, and Rev. William England for seeking to be served.
Advanced general admission ticket sales are underway and can be purchased for $45 until June 15th. after June 16th $50 pp; $60 for VIP seating which includes a special commemorative gift; and Corporate tables are available for $375 (table of 8).. For tickets and/or information, contact Audrey Willis (904) 829-3996 or Elizabeth Duncan at (904) 347-1382 or Email: contact@accordfreedomtrail.org.
Any corporation wishing to serve as a sponsor for the luncheon may request a Sponsorship Packet. Please contact Gwendolyn Duncan (386) 986-4121 or Email: gwen062856@aol.com
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The ACCORD Freedom Trail, presented by the Northrop Grumman Corporation, is a series of thirty historical markers with small narratives describing the sites and events that took place during the Civil Rights Movement of St. Augustine.
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Fentress Arrested on the Steps of the
Monson Motor Lodge with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Arrested nearly 46 years ago on the steps of the Monson Motor Lodge with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Ralph Abernathy, Clyde Jenkins, local barber, and Rev. William England of Boston, Kathryn Fentress, Civil Rights Activist returns to St. Augustine to share her incredible story at the 4th Annual ACCORD Freedom Trail Luncheon presented by the Northrop Grumman Corporation.
Kathryn Fentress lives thousands of miles away from the Nation’s Oldest City, on the Pacific Coast, in Bellingham, WA, but will return to the St. Augustine as guest speaker for the 4th Annual ACCORD Freedom Trail Luncheon presented by the Northrop Grumman Corporation on July 2nd.
A Nineteen years old Duke University Pre-med Student, at the time of her arrest, she spent over six nights in the St. Johns County Jail in a segregated cell for seeking service at the Monson Motor Lodge Restaurant with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Ralph Abernathy, Clyde Jenkins (local barber), and Rev. William England. Fentress was charged with breach of peace, trespass with malicious intent, conspiracy, and stopping on the highway discharging passengers. She was let out and spent her twentieth birthday at home in Ormond Beach, but was re-arrested a day later and sent back to jail charged with Breach of peace, conspiracy, and stopping on the highway discharging passengers. In a letter, written from the SJC Jail given to her mom, during a visit, and sent to the Daytona News Journal Fentress, white female states, “Twenty years ago this week my father was killed in action in the Pacific fighting for the freedom of his family, his country, his world. Twenty years ago on the same day he died, I was born, and it is fitting that I am now fighting for the same thing…army I have now joined is a nonviolent one born out of suffering and love and concerned not only with the welfare of America’s Negro citizens but with the spiritual well being of our whole country…I marched...through the streets of St. Augustine…looked into the eyes of hatred…I hurt for my country…for all humanity that has not yet learned how to live in a spirit of love and brotherhood. That is why I am here; I hurt”.
Kathryn Fentress did her graduate work in clinical psychology at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Floridagraduating with her Ph.D. in 1971 with an emphasis in Humanistic Psychology. She now lives in Bellingham, WA and is a Native American specialist to other counselors and case managers working with Native children. She is a clinical supervisor for Evergreen AIDS Foundation, and supervises graduate students and professionals in the community. Ms. Fentress, guest speaker joins the “Big Six”Civil Rights Legend and Freedom Rider, the Honorable United States Congressman John Lewis, Keynote Speaker for the luncheon. Gwendolyn Duncan, President of ACCORD says seating is limited and anyone wishing to purchase tickets may do so by calling Audrey Willis at (904) 829-3996 or Elizabeth Duncan (904) 347-1382.
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