In a significant return to St. Augustine, Rabbi Allen Secher, now 91, will participate in two pivotal events that honor the contributions of Jewish faith leaders to the Civil Rights Movement. Secher, a lifelong advocate for civil rights, was arrested in St. Augustine in 1964 for protesting segregation, an event that marked the largest mass arrest of rabbis in history.

Secher’s visit is not just a personal journey but a tribute to the 16 other rabbis who stood with him in the fight for equality. As the last surviving member of this group, Secher carries the responsibility of preserving their legacy and sharing their story with new generations.

The Play: When The Rabbis Came To Town

On Wednesday, Secher will engage in a post-performance discussion for the stage play When The Rabbis Came To Towna one-man show that chronicles his life and the collective efforts of the rabbis during the Civil Rights Movement. The play, starring actor Adam Bell, is a poignant narrative that spans from the protests against segregation to the 2000s.

Secher emphasizes that the play is not just about him but about all 17 rabbis who took a stand. “I am their memorial. I’m the last one standing,” Secher states, highlighting the importance of memorializing their collective efforts. Bell, who portrays Secher, shares a deep connection with the role, drawing from his own upbringing in Mississippi and his family’s experiences with racial injustice.

The performance begins at 6 p.m. at the Waterworks on San Marco Avenue. Tickets are available online through the Heartland Independent Film & Drama Forum website.

The Letter: Why We Went

The following day, Thursday, Secher will participate in a ceremony led by the St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society. The event will feature a reading of the letter Why We Wentpenned from a St. Augustine jail cell on June 19, 1964. This date is historically significant as it marks the formal end of slavery in 1866 and the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Secher believes the letter’s message remains relevant today. “There’s still an enormous need to make the world better,” he says, reflecting on the enduring legacy of their actions. The reading will take place at the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office jail annex, the very building where Secher and the other demonstrators were arrested in 1964.

Additional Events: Passage at St. Augustine and Meet and Greet

The ACCORD Freedom Trail & Civil Rights Museum will host two events on Thursday evening. At 4 p.m., there will be a screening of Clennon L. King’s award-winning documentary Passage at St. Augustinewhich chronicles the protests leading up to the Civil Rights Act. The screening will be followed by a discussion with King himself.

Later that evening, at 6 p.m., the ACCORD will host a meet and greet event with Robert Swann Jr., a witness to the swim-in demonstration at the Monson Motor Lodge. Color photos taken by Swann’s brother, Nick, will be on display. The event will begin with a presentation by Swann at 6:30 p.m.

Both events will take place at St. Paul AME Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. preached during his visit to St. Augustine. The events are free and open to the public, offering a unique opportunity to engage with the history of the Civil Rights Movement.

For more information about these events, visit the ACCORD’s website: https://.