February 28: Lecture on Civil Rights Demonstrations presented by the Florence County Museum

On Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 3:00 pm, the Florence County Museum will be hosting a lecture on the topic of local civil rights demonstrations. 

This March will mark the 55th anniversary of the Kress lunch counter civil rights demonstrations that took place in Florence in 1960. The peaceful protests took place over two days, March 3 and 4, 1960, in response to the unequal treatment of African American customers at the lunch counters of S.H. Kress and Woolworths department stores in Florence.

All of the participants in the demonstrations were local high school students. Although there was no violence, 48 of the protesters were arrested on charges of parading without a permit. The arrests resulted in two years of legal actions and an eventual SC State Supreme Court case in which all participants were acquitted.

The lecture will be introduced by museum curator, Stephen W. Motte. Feature speakers will be James Miller and Ann Nelson Gregg of Florence. Mr. Miller was the president of the youth chapter of the Florence NAACP and primary organizer of the demonstrations. Mrs. Gregg was the youngest of the 48 people arrested during the protests.

What:   Lecture on the subject of local civil rights demonstrations

Who:    Guest Speakers: Mr. James Miller, former president of the youth chapter of the Florence NAACP & Mrs. Ann Nelson Gregg, youngest demonstrator present.

Where:   Florence County Museum, 111 West Cheves Street, Florence SC

When:   3:00 pm, February 28, 2015

Cost:   Admission is free to the public

Contact:   For more information please contact:

Stephen W. Motte, Curator of Interpretation & Collections, Florence County Museum (843) 676-1202