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Accept the Chapel Hill Nine Subcommittee Commemorative Marker Recommendation.
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Staff: |
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Molly Luby, Special Projects Coordinator |
Library |
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Jerry Neville, Traffic Engineering Technician |
Public Works |
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Susan Brown, Executive Director for Community Arts and Culture |
Library |
Overview: On June 13, 2018 <https://chapelhill.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3524643&GUID=92E17B12-FE69-4FEC-978C-C9FC42FDF67E&Options=&Search=>, Town Council received the final report from the Historic Civil Rights Commemorations Task Force and authorized the Chapel Hill Nine Subcommittee to make a recommendation for a commemorative marker to Council in Fall 2018. This marker will commemorate Chapel Hill’s first sit-in and the Chapel Hill Nine, the first young people arrested in Chapel Hill for demonstrating against segregation.
The purpose of this item is to provide the Council with the Subcommittee’s recommendation, included in the attached report.
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Recommendation(s): |
That the Council accept the recommendation from the Chapel Hill Nine Subcommittee for a physical marker commemorating Chapel Hill’s first sit-in and the Chapel Hill Nine, refer the recommendation to the Town Manager for implementation, and dissolve the Committee.
Key Issues:
• Historically, there has been a lack of clarity about who participated in Chapel Hill’s first sit-in on February 28, 1960. The Chapel Hill Nine subcommittee’s first goal was to reconcile historical accounts and to clarify the historical record based on primary sources, firsthand accounts, and existing oral histories.
• The subcommittee met a total of 12 times between June 26 and October 10, 2018 to review, question, and reach consensus on the historical record about events that occurred on February 28, 1960.
• Based on this work, the subcommittee has concluded that the Chapel Hill Nine were: Harold Foster (18), William Cureton (18), John Farrington (17), Earl Geer (16), David Mason Jr. (17), Clarence Merritt Jr. (17), James Merritt (16), Douglas Perry (17), and Albert Williams (16). Additionally, the subcommittee concluded that these nine young men were the participants of the Chapel Hill’s first sit-in at Colonial Drug, Co. on February 28, 1960.
• The contribution of young, black high school students in sparking the direct-action movement in Chapel Hill is notable community history. Dr. Reginald Hildebrand, chair of this subcommittee, writes, “What set Chapel Hill apart was the remarkably mature leadership of an extraordinary group of high school students, who grew up in the community.”
• The subcommittee asserts that this history should be commemorated for the benefit of the whole community and future generations.
• Design recommendations included in the attached report are based on the interests of the community and stakeholders.
• Implementation by staff will include technical considerations such as proposed Town streetscaping, state and local regulations including DOT right-of-way and ADA accessibility, and design review by appropriate boards and commissions.
Fiscal Impact/Resources: No fiscal resources are required to review the report and discuss next steps. If additional resources are required to implement recommendations, staff will work to identify funding and return to the Council with a request for a budget ordinance amendment.
Council Goals:
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Create a Place for Everyone |
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Develop Good Places, New Spaces |
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Support Community Prosperity |
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Nurture Our Community |
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Facilitate Getting Around |
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Grow Town and Gown Collaboration |
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Attachments: |
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• Resolution |
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• Draft Staff Presentation |
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• Report and Recommendation |
A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE ON HISTORIC CIVIL RIGHTS COMMEMORATIONS, REFER IMPLEMENTATION TO TOWN MANAGER AND STAFF, AND DISSOLVE THE SUBCOMMITTEE (2018-11-07/R-4)
WHEREAS, on June 13, 2018 the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill accepted the report of the Historic Civil Rights Commemorations Task Force; and
WHEREAS, the Council further authorized the Task Force’s Chapel Hill Nine Subcommittee to develop a recommendation for a physical marker commemorating the first sit-in in Chapel Hill and the Chapel Hill Nine, the first young people arrested in Chapel Hill for demonstrating against segregation; and
WHEREAS, the Subcommittee developed a recommendation for a marker informed by community input, documented historical research, and wider community interests.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council accepts the recommendation of the Chapel Hill Nine Subcommittee.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that that the Council refers the recommendation to the Town Manager and staff for implementation, and that staff will keep Council updated on implementation progress.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council thanks Subcommittee members and Chair, Reginald Hildebrand, for their commitment and contributions. Other members include Nancy Oates, Town Council Member; Ken Broun, Chair of the Historic Civil Rights Commemorations Task Force and former Mayor; James Britt; Dianne Jackson; Danita Mason-Hogans; OJ McGee; Mae McLendon; Cecelia Moore; Megan Stanley.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council finds that the Chapel Hill Nine Subcommittee has fulfilled its charge, its work is deemed complete and the Subcommittee is dissolved.
This the 7th day of November, 2018.
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The Agenda will reflect the text below and/or the motion text will be used during the meeting. |
presenter
PRESENTER: Molly Luby, Special Projects Coordinator, Library
Ken Broun, Chair, Historic Civil Rights Commemorations Task Force
RECOMMENDATION: That the Council accept the recommendation from the Chapel Hill Nine Subcommittee for a physical marker commemorating Chapel Hill’s first sit-in and the Chapel Hill Nine, refer the recommendation to the Town Manager for implementation, and dissolve the Committee.