Submitted by Alexandra Lajoux
January 21, 2021
[As we look forward to Black History Month in February, Alexandra Lajoux has offered praise to Fernandina Beach City Commissioners for actions taken to celebrate and acknowledge contributions of our local African Americans during the past year. She delivered the remarks below during the Fernandina Beach City Commission meeting on January 19, 2021. We are pleased to reprint them here for the benefit of our readers.]
Mr. Mayor, Esteemed Commissioners.
I have come here tonight praise you and City officers for being proactive in honoring our African American community members, whose long and glorious history and promising future combine to make them one of the greatest treasures in our town. This community has many leaders, not just from yesterday but also for tomorrow.
Here are highlights from the past 12 months.
Last year, following a rousing January 2020 speech by Peck Alumni Chair Neil Frink, the Commission voted unanimously for Resolution 2020-28 naming the Peck Center Auditorium after longtime coach Nelson P. Williams.
In June 2020, many Commission members joined our police chief James T. Hurley and Sherriff Bill Leeper in a peaceful march highlighting the national problem of police brutality. City Commission Candidate Wendall McGahee spoke, along with Rev. Anthony Daniels. Chief Hurley’s speech that day matched his record of positive community relations. (FYI, our force includes officers like Officer Jarrell Mitchell, recently recognized by Chief Hurley for saving a woman’s life through CPR.)
In December 2020, then Mayor Johnny Miller issued his last letter of appreciation to honor past Mayor Charles Albert. Vice Mayor Len Kreger and City Attorney Tammi Bach made a home delivery of the proclamation, prepared, as are all proclamations, by our City Clerk Caroline Best.
In January 2021, City Manager Dale Martin, responding to suggestions from Mayor Mike Lednovich, other City Commissioners, and certain citizens, announced that the City would honor Mayor Charles Albert (husband of Peck Center Librarian Ernie Albert) and past Vice Mayor Patricia Thompson (wife of Rev. Bernard Thompson), in February, with details forthcoming about their historic contributions.
On January 18, both past Mayor Johnny Miller and Mayor Mike Lednovich greeted marchers in the Martin Luther King parade, which included participation from the local youth-led Racial Equality Coalition as well as the new Nassau Racial Equality Coalition involving many City leaders including Vice Major Kreger, who rode in the parade.
Thank you, Commissioners and Officers, for raising awareness in broader Nassau County of the tremendous value of our African-American heritage here in the City. Through continual recognition, as well as other means such as historic district zoning and policies favorable for employment in our mills and small businesses, we must be ever vigilant in continuing to make Fernandina Beach a place where families who have been here for generations can continue to thrive.