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Clifton in the Capital: Tallahassee Civic Activist
Item 3 of 8
In the summer of 1963, hundreds of students from Florida A&M protested segregation at several downtown theaters, including the State Theatre which was located here on Monroe Street. Hundreds of students met on campus and marched down Monroe Street protesting the theater. After nine days of protest, dozens of students were arrested on May 30, 1963. The protests continued throughout the summer.

A man holds a sign outside of the theatre during the protest.

A man holds a sign outside of the theatre during the protest.

Hundreds, including many students, participated in the protest.

Hundreds, including many students, participated in the protest.

Students on the northeast corner of Monroe and College lined up on their way to police wagons that took them to jail on May 30, 1963.

Students on the northeast corner of Monroe and College lined up on their way to police wagons that took them to jail on May 30, 1963.

The protest began with meetings and strategy sessions led by veterans of the Civil Rights Movement as well as local students. In May, hundreds of students met on campus to hear speakers and many of these students decided to risk arrest in order to protest segregation in Tallahassee.  

By August, some of the protesters faced physical assault for their participation in civil rights activism. Some were arrested and jailed for almost a week. The corner of Jefferson St. and Monroe St. features a commemorative sidewalk that includes the names of many of the participants in this and other protests against segregation in the city from 1960 to 1963. 

"The Civil Rights Movement in Florida." Florida Memory - State Library & Archives of Florida.  http://www.floridamemory.com/onlineclassroom/civilrights/photos. 

Watts, Leon Daniel. "Ageless: Florida Theater in August 1963." Florida Today. September 10, 2014. https://www.floridatoday.com/story/life/wellness/ageless/2014/09/10/ageless-florida-theater-august/1...