Downtown in Louisville in Jefferson County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Campaign to End Racial Segregation in Louisville
Photographed by Shane Oliver, July 3, 2021
1. Campaign to End Racial Segregation in Louisville Marker
The full-scale assault on racial segregation in Louisville began in Feb. 1961, when local high school students staged non-violent demonstrations. Under leadership of the NAACP & CORE, they demanded passage of laws to end public racial discrimination. Fourth St. was hub of community activity where many protests and arrests occurred.
Negotiations with city officials, demonstrations, an economic boycott, voter registration, and issue oriented voting led to the passage, on May 14, 1963, of a law making it unlawful for anyone to be refused service in a public place because of race, color, religion, or national origin.
Erected 2011 by Kentucky Historical Society and Kentucky Department of Highways; Presented by the Louisville Branch NAACP. (Marker Number 2355.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1961.
Location. 38° 14.947′ N, 85° 45.476′ W. Marker is in Louisville, Kentucky, in Jefferson County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of South 4th Street and West Chestnut Street, on the right when traveling south on South 4th
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Ohio River Valley. 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 and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mary Anderson (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Sit-In Demonstration Site (about 300 feet away); James Guthrie (1792-1869) (about 400 feet away); Speed Building (about 400 feet away); Sit-in Demonstration Site (about 400 feet away); Civil Rights Movement Overview - Fourth Street Sit-In Demonstration Sites (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Sit-In Demonstration Site (about 400 feet away); Brennan House (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Louisville.
Also see . . . 1961 Campaign to End Racial Segregation - Fourth Street Shopping District. By David J. Trowbridge for Clio: Your Guide to History. Posted April 19, 2017. (Submitted on December 2, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 26, 2020
2. Campaign to End Racial Segregation in Louisville Marker (Side B)
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 26, 2020
3. Campaign to End Racial Segregation in Louisville Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 1, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 578 times since then and 35 times this year. Last updated on July 31, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on July 31, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 2. submitted on December 1, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on December 2, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
