Commemorating the 60th anniversary of St. Augustine’s historic segregation protest, The LJD Jewish Family & Community Services (JFCS) is hosting an open gallery day Sunday, June 2, at the Frisch Family Holocaust Memorial Gallery in Jacksonville. Admission is free.
The gallery’s “We Could Not Be Silent” exhibit tells the story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as he aided the local Black community and allies in desegregating properties in St. Augustine in June of 1964 — and how the groups faced intense hostility and violence in response.
Recognizing how the silence surrounding the Holocaust allowed it to happen, former Freedom Rider Rabbi Israel Dresner joined 15 other rabbis to support King in the movement. They were all eventually imprisoned and wrote a moving letter to the Jewish community from their jail cell about their experiences, a copy of which is included in the exhibit.
JFCS Holocaust educator Melissa Williams said that, while they’ve displayed the exhibit for a while now, their usual 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours make it more challenging for the general public to visit.
“We want to make it accessible to all,” Williams said. “It only made sense to do so during the month it all took place 60 years ago.”
Individuals and families can visit the gallery between noon and 3 p.m. Sunday. Visitors will be able to:
The gallery is located in the Alan J. Taffet Building, 8540 Baycenter Road, Jacksonville.
For more information, go to ResistHateJax.com.
