Markers trace civil rights movement near Atlanta University Center

Several civil rights pioneers gathered Wednesday to unveil 15 historical markers that show the path students took on the Atlanta University Center’s campus to protest injustice and segregation during the civil rights movement.

The idea for commemorating the student movement with historic markers began eight years ago, encouraged by Atlanta City Councilman Michael Julian Bond, whose late father, Julian, was part of the original three who decided to take action. The concept developed into a reality after a dedication ceremony to rename Fair Street to Atlanta Student Movement Boulevard in 2010.

An unveiling ceremony was held at the Robert W. Woodruff Library at the Atlanta University Center.

Those involved in the project say the Atlanta marker project is unique because a person can go to each historic marker and hear directly from the person who was part of the history made. Each marker is equipped with a QR code in the bottom right hand corner for people to listen on a smartphone or tablet. Once the code is scanned, it takes them to a web page for that exclusive marker where there are options to hear the story directly through that person’s vision via a compilation of video or individual audio recordings.

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