Featured image for “Ax Handle Saturday commemoration comes amid push to remove equity from public discourse”
Dr. Rodney L. Hurst listens to a commemoration of the 63rd anniversary of Ax Handle Saturday on Aug. 27, 2023. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
August 26, 2025

Ax Handle Saturday commemoration comes amid push to remove equity from public discourse

The 65th anniversary of Ax Handle Saturday will be commemorated Wednesday at The Church of Oakland on Jessie Street.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “New Lincolnville park honors two ‘unsung heroes’”
St. Augustine Vice Mayor Barbara Blonder greets George Smith at the grand opening for a new park in Lincolnville honoring him and his late wife Ollie Smith. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 6, 2024

New Lincolnville park honors two ‘unsung heroes’

George and Ollie Smith are little-known pillars of the historically Black Lincolnville community.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “MLK’s nephew preaches at St. Augustine church where King delivered sermon 60 years ago”
The Rev. Derek Barber King preaches from inside the pulpit at St. Paul AME Church in St. Augustine on the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement. He is joined in the pulpit by St. Paul AME pastor the Rev. Alesia Ford-Burse, left; the Rev. Cerita Battles, and Beverly Troutman. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 16, 2024

MLK’s nephew preaches at St. Augustine church where King delivered sermon 60 years ago

The younger King started his remarks by referencing his uncle’s most famous words.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Waves of Change: Civil rights demonstrators return to St. Augustine”
The St. Johns Cultural Council recognized Purcell Conway and Shed Dawson for their participation in the St. Augustine Beach wade-ins in June 1964. Their efforts to integrate a whites-only beach was part of a series of demonstrations during Freedom Summer. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 6, 2024

Waves of Change: Civil rights demonstrators return to St. Augustine

Protesters Shed Dawson and Purcell Conway are honored as a new museum exhibit commemorates wade-ins at a whites-only beach.…

By Noah Hertz and Will Brown

Featured image for “St. Augustine civil rights landmark wins $750,000 grant”
The St. Augustine Beach Hotel was instrumental in the Civil Rights Movement. | St. Johns Cultural Council
April 30, 2024

St. Augustine civil rights landmark wins $750,000 grant

Wade-ins at the St. Augustine Beach Hotel contributed to the passage of the national Civil Rights Act.…

By Noah Hertz

Civil Rights Movement

Civil Rights Movement