In 1964, St. Augustine, Florida became a central player in the civil rights movement. It was then that Dr. Martin Luther King Junior left a lasting mark on the city; when he was arrested during a demonstration.
Now, his fingerprints taken during that arrest are on display in a new exhibit.
A new exhibit at the Excelsior Center shows the impact of King’s visit and arrest on the city and the civil rights movement.
Everett Haney, St. John’s county deputy who arrested king on June 11, 1964, says at time, he was just doing his job, trying to keep the peace. He and others now know that King’s arrest helped reach that goal.
Dr. King’s arrest garnered national media attention. And less than a month later, the Civil Rights Act became law. St. Augustine had witnessed a turning point in the history; something everyone is reliving inside this museum.
“It brings back so many of the memories of the times we went through and I just sat there watching that and actually praying that it never happens again,” Haney said.