Tallahassee in Leon County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Civil Rights Foot Soldiers of Tallahassee Memorial

Cascades Historical Plaza

Photographed By Brandon D Cross

1. The Civil Rights Foot Soldiers of Tallahassee Memorial Marker (Panel 1)

Inscription.

The Civil Rights Foot Soldiers of Tallahassee Memorial. Cascades Historical Plaza. The Civil Rights Foot Soldiers of Tallahassee . The following civil rights activists were "foot soldiers" ordinary people who put their lives and livelihoods on the line for justice. Tallahassee honors these leaders and the many other anonymous citizens who participated in local bus boycotts, sit-ins and public schools integration. Dr. R. L. Anderson . Malachi Andrews . Dr. Wilmoth Baker . Eddie Barrington . Calvin Bess . John Boardman . Father David Brooks . Judith Benninger Brown . John Broxton . Barbara Broxton . Clement Carney . Benjamin Cowins . Rev. Dr. Milton Cox Samuel Dixie . Laura Dixie . Atty. Howard Dixon . Atty John Due . Patricia Stephens Due . Rev. K.S. Dupont . Willie Mae Fisher . Mary Ola Gaines . Rev. R. N. Gooden . Atty. Grattan Graves . Philip Hadley . Richard Haley . Dan Harmeling Rev. H. McNeil Harris . Johnny Herndon . Atty Horace Hill . Rev. J. H. Hobbs . Millicent Holifield . Marilyn Holifield . Bishop Halifield Sr . Rev. Dr James Hudson . Wilhelmina Jakes . Stephen Jones . Rubin Kenon . Christine Knowles . Harold Knowles William Larkins . Clifton Lewis . George Lewis . Rev. T. Lofton . James Mobley . Sybil Mobley . Angelina Nance . Edwin Norwood Sr. . Carrie Palterson . Willie K. Perkins . Rev. Dr. J. Metz Rollins . James Shaw . Lillian Shaw Atty. Tobias Simon . Rev. Daniel B. Speed . Leonard Speed . Rev. Dr. Henry M. Steele . Rev. Dr. C. Kenzie Steele . Mrs. Lois B. Steele . Priscilla Stephens . Morris Thomas . Melodee Thompson . Inez Williams . Dr. M. C. Willams . Daisy Young

March 19, 1960 Rev. C. K. Steele 803 Floral Street Tallahassee, Florida Dear Rev. Steele: For eight jailed students. I have just learned of your courageous willingness to go to jail instead of paying fines for your righteous protest against segregated eating facilities. Through this decision you have again proven that there is nothing more majestic and sublime than the determined courage of individuals willing to suffer and sacrifice for the cause of freedom. You have discovered anew the meaning of the cross and as Christ died to make men holy, you are suffering to make men free. As you suffer the inconvenience of remaining in jail, please remember that unearned suffering is redemptive. Going to jail for a righteous cause is a badge of honor and a symbol of dignity. I assure you that your valiant witness is one of the glowing epics of our time and you are bringing all of America nearer the threshold of the worlds bright tomorrows. Signed: Martin Luther King, Jr. President

The Civil Rights Foot
Soldiers of Tallahassee
The following civil rights activists were "foot soldiers" ordinary people who put their lives and livelihoods on the line for justice. Tallahassee honors these leaders and the many other anonymous citizens who participated in local bus boycotts, sit-ins and public schools integration.

Dr. R. L. Anderson • Malachi Andrews • Dr. Wilmoth Baker • Eddie Barrington • Calvin Bess • John Boardman • Father David Brooks • Judith Benninger Brown • John Broxton • Barbara Broxton • Clement Carney • Benjamin Cowins • Rev. Dr. Milton Cox

Samuel Dixie • Laura Dixie • Atty. Howard Dixon • Atty John Due • Patricia Stephens Due • Rev. K.S. Dupont • Willie Mae Fisher • Mary Ola Gaines • Rev. R. N. Gooden • Atty. Grattan Graves • Philip Hadley • Richard Haley • Dan Harmeling

Rev. H. McNeil Harris • Johnny Herndon • Atty Horace Hill • Rev. J. H. Hobbs • Millicent Holifield • Marilyn Holifield • Bishop Halifield Sr • Rev. Dr James Hudson • Wilhelmina Jakes • Stephen Jones • Rubin Kenon • Christine Knowles • Harold Knowles

William Larkins • Clifton Lewis • George Lewis • Rev. T. Lofton • James Mobley • Sybil Mobley • Angelina Nance • Edwin Norwood

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Sr. • Carrie Palterson • Willie K. Perkins • Rev. Dr. J. Metz Rollins • James Shaw • Lillian Shaw

Atty. Tobias Simon • Rev. Daniel B. Speed • Leonard Speed • Rev. Dr. Henry M. Steele • Rev. Dr. C. Kenzie Steele • Mrs. Lois B. Steele • Priscilla Stephens • Morris Thomas • Melodee Thompson • Inez Williams • Dr. M. C. Willams • Daisy Young

March 19, 1960

Rev. C. K. Steele
803 Floral Street
Tallahassee, Florida

Dear Rev. Steele:
For eight jailed students. I have just learned of your courageous willingness to go to jail instead of paying fines for your righteous protest against segregated eating facilities. Through this decision you have again proven that there is nothing more majestic and sublime than the determined courage of individuals willing to suffer and sacrifice for the cause of freedom. You have discovered anew the meaning of the cross and as Christ died to make men holy, you are suffering to make men free.

As you suffer the inconvenience of remaining in jail, please remember that unearned suffering is redemptive. Going to jail for a righteous cause is a badge of honor and a symbol of dignity.

I assure you that your valiant witness is one of the glowing epics of our
Photographed By Brandon D Cross

2. The Civil Rights Foot Soldiers of Tallahassee Memorial (Panel 2)
time and you are bringing all of America nearer the threshold of the worlds bright tomorrows.

Signed: Martin Luther King, Jr.
President

Martin Luther King Jr, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), sent a telegram to SCIC Vice President Rev. C. K. Steele praising the eight Tallahassee students who chose to endure jail sentences for protesting segregation.

Erected 2022 by City of Tallahassee and Leon County.

Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion • Civil Rights. A significant historical year for this entry is 1960.

Location. 30° 26.115′ N, 84° 16.679′ W. Marker is in Tallahassee, Florida, in Leon County. Marker can be reached from South Gadsden Street south of East Gaines Street, on the left when traveling south. Marker located within Cascades Park on the northwest side of the Marriott Hotel. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 801 S Gadsden St, Tallahassee FL 32301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Peace and Persistence (here, next to this marker); A Long Journey (here, next to this marker); Inspiring a Nation (here, next to this marker); Jail Over Bail (here, next to this marker); Lunch Counter Sit-Ins

The Civil Rights Foot Soldiers of Tallahassee Memorial (Panel 3) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon D Cross

3. The Civil Rights Foot Soldiers of Tallahassee Memorial (Panel 3)

(a few steps from this marker); Tallahassee Bus Boycott (a few steps from this marker); Separate and Unequal (a few steps from this marker); Lynching in America / Lynching In Leon County (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tallahassee.

Also see . . . Let’s celebrate Tallahassee’s past to change the future. (Submitted on December 30, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

The Civil Rights Foot Soldiers of Tallahassee Memorial (Panel 4) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon D Cross

4. The Civil Rights Foot Soldiers of Tallahassee Memorial (Panel 4)

The Civil Rights Foot Soldiers of Tallahassee Memorial (Panel 6) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon D Cross

5. The Civil Rights Foot Soldiers of Tallahassee Memorial (Panel 6)

Photographed By Brandon D Cross

6. The Civil Rights Foot Soldiers of Tallahassee Memorial (Panel 6)

The Civil Rights Foot Soldiers of Tallahassee Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon D Cross

7. The Civil Rights Foot Soldiers of Tallahassee Memorial

Letter from Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. To Rev. C.K. Steele image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon D Cross

8. Letter from Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. To Rev. C.K. Steele

Credits. This page was last revised on January 11, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 30, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 98 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on December 30, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. 7, 8. submitted on December 31, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.