Glen Echo Integration Picket Line: 1960
Picket line at the entrance of Glen Echo Amusement Park in Montgomery County, Maryland July 8, 1960 calling for the park to integrate.
Pickets began June 30 and continued until the park closed in the fall.
Picketers faced harassment and counter-demonstrations by the American Nazi Party. The park's security guards, also sworn deputy sheriffs of the county, also harassed the picketers.
But the nearby community of Bannockburn rallied to the picketers side and helped maintain the line. They were joined by other activists and some elected officials during the summer.
Police arrested a number of protestors for trespassing. On one occasion, five entered the park and sat on the merry-go-round until they were arrested.
The trespassing cases were ultimately overturned in court.
The park, facing lawsuits, political pressure and renewed picketing, integrated on opening day 1961.
For more photos related to the Glen Echo protests, see flic.kr/s/aHsjDFaXGM
For an article on one of the protest leaders, Dion Diamond, see washingtonspark.wordpress.com/2013/01/20/crazy-dion-diamo...
For photos of Dion Diamond, see flic.kr/s/aHsjDEYDg7
Photo by Walter Oates. Courtesy of the DC Public Library Washington Star Collection © Washington Post.
Glen Echo Integration Picket Line: 1960
Picket line at the entrance of Glen Echo Amusement Park in Montgomery County, Maryland July 8, 1960 calling for the park to integrate.
Pickets began June 30 and continued until the park closed in the fall.
Picketers faced harassment and counter-demonstrations by the American Nazi Party. The park's security guards, also sworn deputy sheriffs of the county, also harassed the picketers.
But the nearby community of Bannockburn rallied to the picketers side and helped maintain the line. They were joined by other activists and some elected officials during the summer.
Police arrested a number of protestors for trespassing. On one occasion, five entered the park and sat on the merry-go-round until they were arrested.
The trespassing cases were ultimately overturned in court.
The park, facing lawsuits, political pressure and renewed picketing, integrated on opening day 1961.
For more photos related to the Glen Echo protests, see flic.kr/s/aHsjDFaXGM
For an article on one of the protest leaders, Dion Diamond, see washingtonspark.wordpress.com/2013/01/20/crazy-dion-diamo...
For photos of Dion Diamond, see flic.kr/s/aHsjDEYDg7
Photo by Walter Oates. Courtesy of the DC Public Library Washington Star Collection © Washington Post.