Historical Journal Articles
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Wade-Ins
The City of Fort Lauderdale celebrated the 50th anniversary on the Fourth of July 1961 Beach Wade-Ins. On that date, protesting African-Americans took to the water at the segregated John U. Lloyd Beach State Park. They broke the law to demand equal facilities at the “colored beach.”
A State Historical Marker was placed to commemorate "Colored Beach" at the north end of John U. Lloyd Beach State Park in February 2009. The marker also honors the Fort Lauderdale Wade-In actions at Las Olas Blvd. and A1A. The marker’s unveiling was part of the City's Centennial Celebration on July Fourth, 2011. The Historical Commission played an important role in this project, as did Commissioner Sue Gunzburger and her staff.
Follow this link to an article in the historical journal Tequesta. Award-winning Florida history author William Crawford, Jr., describes this pivotal time in Broward County’s civil rights history.