January 12, President Obama proclaimed two sites in Anniston, the former Greyhound Station and the site of the Freedom Riders' bus burning in 1961, National Monuments through the Antiquities Act of 1906.The same day, the National Park Service also awarded a $496,375 grant to restore the former bus station.
As a city, a county and community, we are extremely excited about this opportunity. These significant Civil Rights Movement sites are a part of history, the 1961 Freedom Rides, which compelled the federal government to enforce the desegregation of interstate public transportation and facilities.These historical markers and sites are already currently visited by hundreds of tourists and locals each year; however, this federal assistance will help us amplify our current impact. Visiting these historic locations of the freedom riders allows us to form connections to the stories of the Civil Rights Movement, the courage to stand for the full freedoms of many.
The buildings and the property around our historic sites have not changed drastically; therefore, visitors can still vividly imagine the attack on the Freedom Riders who arrived on that day in 1961. Now, outdoor murals and historic markers tell of the events, and our region has a powerful story to share with the world. As stated on the National Park Service website, their mission is to preserve and protect “powerful places” – including the physical memory of our nation's civil rights history. We look forward to the many visitors coming to witness history, preserved for future generations to come.
No comments:
Post a Comment