On August 27, 1960, two groups of teenagers and young adults from the NAACP Youth Council went to the W.T. Grant and Woolworth's department stores in downtown Jacksonville, Florida, and quietly sat down at these two stores' whites-only lunch counters.
Like many young African Americans across the country at this time, they were quietly but steadfastly challenging the laws of segregation in the South, and they had been doing so for around three weeks.
The stores refused to serve them, but they waited in silent protest, not leaving until the stores closed. The students then exited and saw a large group of white men, numbering around 200, coming towards them. A few were wearing Confederate uniforms, some were carrying baseball bats, and others brandished ax handles with Confederate flags taped to them.
The white mob attacked, beating the young protesters and African-American downtown shoppers, until police broke up the violence. Fifty people were injured in the brutal attack.
This event stands testament to the brutalities that so many endured to end injustice in the United States. Today is the 50th anniversary of what came to be called "Ax Handle Saturday."
Comments
Oh my God, what Courageous Souls!!! Thank you for the information you provide with each and every newsletter, Lisa! ^j^ Namaste!
Yes, definitely brave souls………I love reading these black history emails. We need to be reminded of what our ancestors went through. I am 35 years old and my generation has never really had to stand up and fight for much……….everything has pretty much been handed to us and we take it for granted. Being reminded of how it used to be, encourages me to strive for more and be all I can be because back in those days they didn’t have the opportunities we have today. They had no choices or options……….THANK YOU!