MOUNT VERNON — People will have the chance this weekend to hear about the little-known stories of Mount Vernon’s place in the country’s history to protect and expand civil rights.
Knox Alliance for Racial Equality is sponsoring a free walking tour on Saturday, Oct. 23 around downtown Mount Vernon. The tour will last from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
More specifically, some of the topics the walking tour will cover include Black and female pioneers in Mount Vernon, the city’s participation in the Underground Railroad, visits of national figures such as Frederick Douglass and political debates about civil rights and equality in Mount Vernon’s past.
The tour will begin at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, located at 200 N. Main Street, where attendees will be given complimentary donuts and coffee in the courtyard, KARE co-chair Renee Romano said. The tour will feature nine stops, Romano said, and at each stop attendees will learn about the history of the site as it relates to civil rights.
Attendees should anticipate walking about three-quarters of a mile. Maps will be provided, so attendees can drive between stops if necessary. The rain date for the tour is 1 p.m. on Oct. 24.
KARE was founded in 2018 with the mission to challenge racism and promote inclusion in the county. The civil rights tour will be the first of its kind for KARE.
Romano said KARE intends for the tour to be one effort that can work to broaden the stories told about Mount Vernon and Knox County.
For further questions about the tour, visit KARE’s website at https://www.kareknox.org or email karemtvernon@gmail.com.
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