The Hope and History Mural Project commemorates the sit-ins and Ax Handle Saturday which began in Hemming Park August 27, 1960. The day when a mob of whites beat a group of students trying to integrate a whites-only lunch counter in downtown Jacksonville.
The stunning mural is on The Eastside Brotherhood building on A. Philip Randolph Boulevard.
The Hope and History Mural Project was officially unveiled earlier today.
Over 25 local students worked on the project and were able to interact with civil rights activists and other community organizations. The project was facilitated by UNF Center for Urban Education and Policy – CUEP (University of North Florida) and the student artists were led by Nicole Holderbaum and Suzanne Pickett.
Dr. Rudy Jamison, UNF’s CUEP community initiatives coordinator, said that the mural can be the start of a new conversation about the attack on African-American protesters in Jacksonville that came to be known as Ax Handle Saturday.
In attendance were the Director at the Center for Urban Education and Policy at the University of North Florida Chris Janson along with Dr. Rudy Jamison, who is the community initiatives coordinator with the center, and Rodney Hurst, a civil rights leader, activist and author. Hurst was one of the students who was attacked.
The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville was also on hand for the occasion, representing The Arts, and City Council Member Reggie Gaffney, representing the City of Jacksonville.
“So not only does it amplify the story of Ax Handle Saturday, I think it is going to bring a lot of attention to the community out east,” Jamison said. “I think it is going to serve as a central location for community members to convene. I think they will be able to learn about the story even more.”