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First African Baptist Church Photograph courtesy of the Alabama Historical Commission |
This church's pastor, Rev. T.Y. Rogers, Jr., and the local community led
a successful campaign against segregation in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In late
spring 1964, the new county courthouse put up "whites only" signs in front
of the bathrooms. Irate black citizens formed the Tuscaloosa Citizens
for Action Committee, headed by Rev. Rogers, to challenge racially discriminatory
practices. The church became demonstration headquarters and the site of
many local rallies and marches. A climactic June 9 rally outside First
African Baptist forced the local segregation issue into federal courts.
The rally was staged to test a local ban on protest marches and took place
during the 75-day filibuster of the Civil Rights Bill by southern senators.
Tuscaloosa's police commissioner arrested Rev. Rogers after he refused
to call off the rally. Then police charged into the crowd, pushing it
back into the church. Later, hoping to force the protestors outside where
they could be easily arrested, police sprayed fire hoses and hurled tear
gas through the church windows. Ninety-one protestors were jailed. The
violent incident spurred action on several pending and subsequent court
cases. On June 26, a federal judge ordered Tuscaloosa County to remove
the offensive courthouse signs, citing the 14th Amendment right to be
free of "discrimination of any kind in the use and enjoyment of publicly-owned
facilities."
The First African Baptist is located at 2621 9th Street in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Tours are available daily by appointment. For more information call 205-758-2833
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