Albany in Dougherty County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Freedom Alley and City Hall

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 5, 2018

1. Freedom Alley and City Hall Marker

Inscription. During the Albany Movement (1961-1963), as part of the Civil Rights Movement, the area here bordering the former Albany City Hall and jail became known as Freedom Alley. Located at what is now the Central Square Government Complex, the location served as a holding spot as hundreds of Civil Rights protestors awaited booking during police chief Laurie Pritchett’s campaign of mass arrests. To avoid violent confrontations and charges of violating civil rights, Pritchett authorized arrests for minor offenses, which were harder to dispute in court. Using this tactic, Pritchett’s police force arrested far more inmates than the Albany jail could hold, and many protestors were sent to jails in neighboring counties. As many as 1,500 protestors were arrested. Many demonstrators, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., were arrested and jailed multiple times during the Albany Movement.

Erected 2018 by the Georgia Historical Society, Albany Civil Rights Institute, Inc., and Albany-Dougherty Historic Preservation Commission. (Marker Number 47-5.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans

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• Civil Rights.

Location. 31° 34.695′ N, 84° 9.171′ W. Marker is in Albany, Georgia, in Dougherty County. It is on Pine Avenue east of North Jackson Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 222 Pine Avenue, Albany GA 31701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Georgia’s Coastal Plain. It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Colonel Nelson Tift (within shouting distance of this marker); Dougherty County (within shouting distance of this marker); British Royal Air Force Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); City of Albany (about 400 feet away);

Marker near the Central Square Government Complex. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 5, 2018

2. Marker near the Central Square Government Complex.

Albany Lights (about 500 feet away); Albany Theatre (about 500 feet away); Albany Municipal Auditorium (about 500 feet away); Carnegie Library (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albany.

Also see . . .
1. The New Georgia Encyclopedia article about the Albany Movement. (Submitted on May 5, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
2. Wikipedia article about the Albany Movement. (Submitted on May 5, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

A nearby Albany Movement marker located 150 feet west image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 5, 2018

3. A nearby Albany Movement marker located 150 feet west

Freedom Alley in the Albany Movement / Police Arrests of Demonstrators in the Albany Movement

Credits. This page was last revised on June 13, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 5, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 582 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 5, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.