Crisfield in Somerset County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Crisfield Protests of 1961
African-American History on the Shore
On Christmas Eve of 1961, 10 interracial members of the Civic Interest Group (CIG) in Baltimore traveled to Crisfield, the home of Maryland Governor J. Millard Tawes, to protest racism. The group, most of them college students Angela Butler, William (Bill) Hansen, Reginald Robinson, Faith Holsaert, Bonnie Kilston, Diane Ostrosky, Margaret (Peggie) Dammond, Donnie Fleming, Frank McDougald, and David Williams led a sit-in at the City Restaurant and were refused service. They were then arrested for trespassing and jailed in Princess Anne. Four were released on bail, but the other six refused to pay the $103.60 bail bond. While jailed for five days, they fasted and sang, and they were offered encouragement and serenaded by students from nearby University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). Their bail bondsman was Frederick St. Clair, the cousin of Gloria Richardson, the leader of the Cambridge movement, and their lawyer was the legendary Juanita Jackson Mitchell, of the Baltimore NAACP.
A second protest on December 29 included the original 10 students along with about 110 local residents. This time, they were served at local restaurants, and no one was arrested. The protests were reported nationwide. Years later, on March 29, 2004, Georgia Congressman John Lewis, on his visit to Salisbury University, identified four of
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Erected by Beach to Bay Heritage Area, Maryland Heritage Areas Authority; Rural Maryland Council.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities series list. A significant historical date for this entry is December 24, 1961.
Location. 37° 58.973′ N, 75° 51.264′ W. Marker is in Crisfield, Maryland, in Somerset County. It is on North 4th Street just north of Pine Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker stands on the west side of Shiloh United Methodist Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 103 N 4th St, Crisfield MD 21817, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Eastern Shore. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, on the Delmarva Peninsula, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Crab Pickers Strike (within shouting distance of this marker); J. Millard Tawes (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hoptown (approx. Ό mile away); Crisfield (approx. 0.4 miles away); Chesapeake Treasures (approx. 0.4 miles away); Beach to Bay Indian Trail (approx. 0.4 miles away); Treasures From The Past (approx. 0.4 miles away); Watermen of the Tangier Sound (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Crisfield.
