Statement | Washington, DC | January 09, 2018

National Trust: Civil Rights Network to Enhance Interpretation of the Modern Civil Rights Movement

Statement by Thomas J. Cassidy, Jr., Vice President, Government Relations and Policy, National Trust for Historic Preservation

President Donald Trump yesterday signed bills into law to create the African American Civil Rights Network Program and the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park within the National Park Service. The following is a statement from Thomas J. Cassidy, Jr., vice president, government relations and policy, National Trust for Historic Preservation:

“Places that reflect the struggle for African-American equality are vital to telling the full story of our nation’s complex history. A network that connects historic sites, routes, corridors, and regions of the Civil Rights Movement brings to life the revolutionary events that happened there and transformed America.

“We thank Reps. Lacy Clay (D-MO) and Jason Smith (R-MO) and Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) for their leadership in the passage of this important legislation to establish the civil rights network program.”

BACKGROUND ON THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS NETWORK ACT

The African American Civil Rights Network Act recognizes the importance of the Civil Rights Movement and the sacrifices made by those who fought against discrimination and segregation of African-Americans. It creates the African American Civil Rights Network Program, which authorizes the National Park Service (NPS) to coordinate sites, activities and research that commemorate, honor and interpret the history of the modern Civil Rights movement (1939-1968).

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About the National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately-funded nonprofit organization dedicated to helping communities maintain and enhance the power of historic places. Chartered by Congress in 1949 and supported by partners, friends, and champions nationwide, we help preserve the places and stories that make communities unique. Through the stewardship and revitalization of historic sites, we help communities foster economic growth, create healthier environments, and build a stronger, shared sense of civic duty and belonging.
SavingPlaces.org

This May, for Preservation Month, we’re celebrating the power of place—and the countless ways, big and small, that preservation creates. Preservation Month is our chance to show why our work matters!

Celebrate!