Historic Marker Unveiling: the Hospital Workers Strike (Oct. 1)

 

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Charleston, SC– The Preservation Society of Charleston will unveil its final modern Civil Rights era historic marker on the campus of the Medical University of South Carolina in the Basic Science Building Auditorium, 173 Ashley Avenue.

The event will be held Tuesday October 1, 2013 at 3 p.m.

Event parking will be available at MUSC garages provided that guests show their event program. This event is free and open to the public.

Guest speakers include local Civil Rights leader Mary Moultrie and Department of Emergency Medicine assistant professor Dr. James Tolley.

Civil Rights marches along city streets such as Ashley Avenue were a pivotal moment in the modern Civil Rights movement in Charleston, SC. On March 20, 1969 Medical University hospital workers, led by local activist Mary Moultrie and other national leaders of the movement, began a 113 day strike to end unequal pay and unfair treatment of African American nurses. The Medical University rehired all strikers and established grievance procedures.

 

In 2011, the Preservation Society placed “Civil Rights Era Sites” on its inaugural Seven to Save list. The Society enlisted an alliance of historians and preservationists, all committed to preserving and protecting African American history, to create a list of historic sites significant to the modern Civil Rights movement. With the help of this alliance and the greater community, the site of the Hospital Workers strike was selected.
This event is made possible through our generous sponsors at MUSC.
For more information please contact Aurora Harris, Community Outreach Manager at (843) 722-4630, aharris@preservationsociety.org or visit our website at www.preservationsociety.org.
Founded in 1920, the Preservation Society of Charleston is the oldest community-based membership historic preservation organization in the United States of America. Our mission is to inspire the involvement of all who dwell in the Lowcountry to honor and respect our material and cultural heritage. Membership in the Preservation Society is open to everyone.

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