Charleston in Charleston County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Hospital Strike of 1969
Photographed By H. Zimmerman
1. Hospital Strike of 1969 Marker
Civil rights marches on Ashley Ave. and elsewhere occurred during strikes at two hospitals from March 20 to July 18, 1969. Workers, mostly black women, cited unequal treatment and pay when they organized and walked out of the Medical College Hospital (MCH) on Doughty St. and Charleston County Hospital (CCH) on Calhoun St. Some picketers were arrested, the state of S.C. refused to sanction a union, and talks stalled.
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference joined the strike in its first major campaign since the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. Protests were marred by violence, and Gov. Robert McNair called out the National Guard and set a curfew. In May King’s widow Coretta Scott King led 5,000 marchers down Ashley Ave. A settlement at MCH in June and CCH in July gave workers raises and promised better treatment.
Erected 2013 by The Preservation Society of Charleston. (Marker Number 10-80.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Labor Unions • Science & Medicine • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1969.
Location. 32° 47.128′ N, 79° 56.801′ W. Marker is in Charleston, South Carolina, in Charleston County. Marker
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Cannon Street Hospital / McClennan Banks Memorial Hospital (approx. ¼ mile away); Old Bethel Methodist Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Old Bethel United Methodist Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Parsonage / Miss Izard's School (approx. 0.3 miles away); United Order of Tents Building (approx. 0.3 miles away); 113 Ashley Avenue (approx. 0.3 miles away); Cannon Street Y (approx. 0.3 miles away); Bethel Methodist Church (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charleston.
Photographed By H. Zimmerman
2. Hospital Strike of 1969 Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on September 20, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 18, 2021, by H. Zimmerman of Charleston, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 200 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 18, 2021, by H. Zimmerman of Charleston, South Carolina. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker in context. • Can you help?
