Remembering Julian Bond In Montgomery
Starting as a young activist, then moving onto the political scene as a Georgia lawmaker and eventual chairman of the NAACP, Julian Bond witnessed and helped shape the civil rights movement like few others.Â
Many were saddened to hear of his death over the weekend at age 75.
Lecia Brooks at Montgomery’s Civil Rights Memorial Center remembers when he helped dedicate the monument outside the building in 1989.
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“He talked about the memorial and the importance of remembering the fallen martyrs of the civil rights movement. What I remember most is that he talked about people being ordinary citizens, just regular people that exhibited extraordinary courage to help change our country,” said Brooks.
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Another person who was stunned to hear the news was Penny Weaver, who met Bond in the early 70’s along with John Lewis and other activists.
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“They ended up coming to my house just to kind of hang out for a little while and that’s when I met Julian,” said Weaver.Â
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The two became fast friends and were close ever since.Â
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Weaver remembers taking this picture just a few years ago in 2012. Bond was with Thomas Gilmore, Greene County’s first black sheriff, who also passed away earlier this year.Â
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“He was always very calm and easy going. Always willing to speak and talk to anyone He had a dignity about him. But most of all he had an amazing sense of humor,” said Weaver.
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It was hard for Weaver to hear the news of his passing. She was just working with him just the other week.
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“It’s terrible that we lost him so soon like this. He still had a lot to give,” said said.Â
