Downtown in Louisville in Jefferson County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

“The Black Six”

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 16, 2024

1. “The Black Six” Marker

Inscription. In May 1968, a traffic stop of a Black schoolteacher, Charles Thomas, turned violent, leading to a Louisville Police officer's suspension, firing, then reinstatement. The reinstatement touched off days of civil unrest after a peaceful rally at 28th and Greenwood in the Parkland neighborhood. The National Guard was called in to restore peace. Six Black Americans, who later became known as the “Black Six,” were scapegoated and falsely charged with conspiracy in connection with the unrest and faced additional accusations of planning to blow up oil refineries in the West End and destroy private property. Members of the Black Six were Ruth Bryant, James Cortez, Walter T. ‘Pete’ Cosby, Samuel Hawkins, Manfred Reid and Robert ‘Kuyu’ Sims. Some of them barely knew each other, lost their livelihoods, and suffered irreparable harm to their reputations. The criminal conspiracy charges against them were dismissed in 1970 when Judge S. Rush Nicholson directed a verdict of acquittal, citing a lack of evidence, and threw the case out of Criminal Court 2, which was then located on Congress Alley. In 2022, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer

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issued an apology on behalf of the city to members of the Black Six and their families, for the harm inflicted upon them. This marker is dedicated to the Black Six, whose struggle taught us to never give up the battle for dignity and justice.

Erected 2022 by Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Law Enforcement. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1968.

Location. 38° 15.286′ N, 85° 45.607′ W. Marker is in Louisville, Kentucky, in Jefferson County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of South 6th Street and Court Place, on the left when traveling south on South 6th Street. Marker is on the west side of Louisville Metro Hall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 531 Court Pl, Louisville KY 40202, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 16, 2024

2. “The Black Six” Marker

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: City and County Named / Jefferson County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); George Rogers Clark (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas Jefferson Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Louisville Bar Association (about 300 feet away); Louis Dembitz Brandeis (about 300 feet away); 2020 Racial Justice Protests (about 300 feet away); Charles W. Anderson, Jr. (about 300 feet away); Jefferson County (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Louisville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Louis XVI (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing).

Credits. This page was last revised on July 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 9, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 602 times since then and 111 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 9, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.