GREENSBORO, N.C.—
An estimated 3,000 people from Greensboro and beyond braved frigid temperatures Monday morning to attend the International Civil Rights Center and Museum's grand opening exactly 50 years after the sit-in at the Elm St. Woolworth's, which now houses the museum.Museum cofounders Skip Alston and Rep. Earl Jones were joined by Rev. Jesse Jackson, Gov. Bev Perdue and other North Carolina legislators for a brief ceremony followed by an official ribbon cutting along the street just outside the building on South Elm St.
Franklin McCain, Jibreel Khazan (formerly Ezell Blair Jr.) and Joseph McNeil -- the three surviving members of the Greensboro Four -- were also on stage, although only McCain spoke. All three spoke to media at a news conference inside the museum shortly after it opened.
Thomas Perez, the assistant attorney general for civil rights, represented the White House at the event.
"(It's) just a remarkable tribute to those that sacrificed on behalf of a broader community," he said. "The President, if he were here today, would be the first to tell us that we still have a remarkable amount of unfinished business in America.
The museum, decades in the making, is housed in what was the old Woolworth's building. The exhibits, which take visitors through the Greensboro sit-in and a broad overview of civil rights progress, cover 2 floors and 20,000 feet.
"I take my hat off to everyone in the community that supports it, the funding that came through to make this happen -- to honor those four gentlemen who had the courage and the determination to sit down, to give future generations an opportunity to go forward," said Lorraine Stanback, who made the nine-hour drive from New Jersey to attend the opening.
The museum's opening was even more personal for Franklin Daye, who grew up in Greensboro.
"It's really important to me. I was born here," he said. "My mother used to bring me to Woolworth's when I was 6 years old in 1960."
Beginning around noon, hundreds of people gathered on the campus of North Carolina A&T for a commemorative march to honor the walk the Greensboro Four had taken 50 years prior.
Before heading toward Elm St., the marchers, led by McCain, Khazan and McNeil, were charged with marching for their own cause.
"They said no to something, and when you say no to something and actually stand behind your words, that means something to me," said Joel Williamson who joined the marchers.
Before hitting the pavement, a brick, special edition newspaper and letters from all three men were placed into a time capsule that will be sealed and buried.
Joyce Evans, a student at Bennett College 50 years ago, was in attendance for the opening and recalled coming back to the Woolworth's day after day in 1960 to protest the segregated lunch counter.
"We walked down and picketed every day after class. I just remember all if it, just being in it," she said.
Rev. John Mendez, a civil rights activist, said the museum is a symbol of all the work and sacrifices made: "(I'm) reliving the history that so many of our people literally suffered through and never dreamed that this day would come."
