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History Chat: Alton and Gwen Yates

Ax Handle Saturday 65th Anniversary

History Chat is a 40-minute program followed by a 20-minute audience Q & A in which Shelton Hull, journalist and Jacksonville resident, will interview Alton and Gwen Yates about Civil Rights sit-ins that ended on Ax Handle Saturday.

About the program: On Saturday, August 27, 1960, a violent attack occurred in Hemming Plaza (now known as James Weldon Johnson Park) against Black demonstrators participating in sit-in protests organized by the NAACP Youth Council at segregated lunch counters in downtown Jacksonville. Mr. and Mrs. Yates will share their personal stories from that day and the surrounding period, reflecting on their experiences as a newlywed couple and discussing the lasting impact of the event.

Alton Yates, Retired U.S. Air Force Officer, Lieutenant Colonel, is a native of Jacksonville’s LaVilla neighborhood. He received national and international acclaim while serving in the U.S. Air Force and participating in aerospace research experiments. In 2020, he was inducted into the "Florida Veterans Hall of Fame". Alton Yates is a former member of St. Vincent’s Health System Advisory Board and lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and the NAACP.

Gwen Yates is a lifelong resident of Jacksonville's Northside and has served two terms on Jacksonville's City Council. Yates had a 26 year career with the City of Jacksonville. During her tenure with the city, she spent 10 years as chief of the Adult Services Division. She also served as project director for the Jacksonville Senior Services Program, caseworker/juvenile counselor with the Child Services Division and was founder and the first director of what is now the Youth Crisis Center. Yates has an outstanding record of public service and community involvement receiving multiple awards and has been recognized for her work locally and nationally. 

Alton and Gwen Yates are co-authors of Living The Legacy: The Story of Alton and Gwen Yates about their life in Jacksonville which was released in February 2025. 

This program is made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation.

Register to save your seat. Registration must be completed two hours prior to the start time. A library card and PIN are required for registration. If you do not have a card, click HERE to obtain one.

Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, accommodations for persons with disabilities are available upon request. Please allow 1–2 business days to process. Last-minute requests will be accepted, but may not be possible to fulfill. Please ask for Learning Services at 255-2665 or email JPLPrograms@coj.net.

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