ACCORD Civil Rights Museum committee formed

Gwendolyn Duncan, President of the 40th ACCORD, Inc., told local Historic City News reporters that a committee has been formed to bring to fruition a Civil Rights Museum in St. Augustine.

ACCORD has appointed Richard P. Burton, Sr. as Chairman, and J.T. Johnson, as Vice-Chair.

Burton served as president of the Allentown, PA Branch NAACP for over fifteen years. Burton has raised thousands of dollars to assist young people in pursuing a higher education. He helped to organize the “Tribute to a King” program, celebrating the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was elected to the Pennsylvania State Conference of NAACP Branches’ Executive Board in 1989.

In 1995, Burton was elected as a member of the NAACP’s National Board of Directors, Past Chair National Election Supervisory Committee, Vice Chair Personnel Committee and Chair of the National Prisoner Rights Sub-Committee. He was a member of the Religious Affairs Committee, and member of the NAACP Advocacy Committee. In October, 1997 Burton was elected Pennsylvania’s NAACP State Conference President. He is a Golden Heritage Life Member of the NAACP.

Burton has worked with the young, seniors, and the disenfranchised throughout the country. He retired from the former Western Electric, AT&T Microelectronics, Lucent Technologies, Allentown Campus and Allentown School District as a School and Community Liaison. Burton is the Project Director and founder of a non-profit community based project: “PROJECT R.E.A.C.H.” INC, established to work with the “At Risk” community in the areas of Re-enfranchisement, Education, Advancement, Counseling and Housing. The Project focuses on violence prevention and disparities associated with the criminal juvenile justice system, the Prison Industrial Complex and racial problems.

Civil rights activist J.T. Johnson, who in 1964 integrated the Monson Motor Lodge Pool, was recently featured on CNN as one of their Intriguing Persons. Johnson appeared with former Ambassador Andrew Young and Mayor Joseph Boles swimming with the sharks at the Atlanta Seaquarium in a symbolic move to bring attention to the documentary which was featured at the Atlanta Film Festival entitled, “Crossing in St. Augustine” by Andrew Young Presents.

Other Committee Members include, Ann Briedenstein, Gale Burnick, Dr. Michael Butler, Septimus Connor, Purcell Conway, Gwendolyn Duncan, Dr. Priscilla Duncan, CB Hackworth, Dr. Robert B. Hayling, Florida State Senator Tony Hill, Darryl & Kathleen Price, Attorney Vivian King, Lorraine McLaughlin, Attorney Fred Martin, David Nolan, Rev. Ron Rawls, Benetta Standly, Hank Thomas, Cora Tyson, and Attorney Dan Warren.

The first meeting of the Civil Rights Museum Committee will be held on May 27th, 12:00 noon at the First Baptist Church, located at 81 St. Francis Street.