ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society held its 13th annual ceremony on Wednesday, commemorating the historic moment when 16 Jewish rabbis were arrested for standing alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a powerful protest against segregation.
The pivotal moment marked the largest mass arrest of rabbis in U.S. history.
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Local leaders gathered at the very jail where those Jewish leaders were detained, highlighting the importance of the location in the context of civil rights history.
The commemoration focused on a letter titled “Why We Went,” which expressed the rabbis’ commitment to confronting racial discrimination.
The rabbis famously created a diversion at the Monson Motor Lodge, allowing young Black activists to swim in the “whites only” pool.
This act of defiance led to outrage when acid was poured into the water to force Black activists to get out.
Local leaders, including St. Augustine Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline, read the rabbis’ letter during the ceremony. Additionally, the son of one of the arrested rabbis shared a touching letter from Dr. King that includes an invitation to his father to join the fight for justice.
The event took place at the site of the Old County Jail on Lewis Speedway at noon. After the ceremony, guests will have the opportunity to tour the Mobile Museum of Tolerance until 4 p.m., marking its first visit to Florida.
Furthermore, this event was so significant that Congress passed the Civil Rights Act the day after the arrests in 1964, following 83 days of debate.
