Media Alert: Dedication of Isom Clemon Civil Rights Memorial Park Jan. 29
Jan 27th, 2025
Posted in: Press ReleaseMayorCity CouncilParks and Recreation
Media Alert: Dedication of Isom Clemon Civil Rights Memorial Park Jan. 29
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WHO: |
Merceria Ludgood, President City of Mobile
Councilor William Carroll City of Mobile, District 2
Fred Rendfrey, Interim President and CEO Downtown Mobile Alliance
Mark Bass, President International Longshoreman Association, Local 1410
Winston James Alabama Democratic Conference
Darlene Moore Daughter of Isom Clemon |
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WHAT: |
Dedication Ceremony for Isom Clemon Civil Rights Memorial Park |
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WHEN: |
Wednesday, January 29, 2025 8:30 a.m. (CST) |
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WHERE: |
520 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue Mobile, AL 36603 (Rain location: Historic Avenue Cultural Center 564 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Mobile, AL 36603) |
Mobile, Ala. — After years of collaborative planning and effort, representatives from the City of Mobile, Mobile County, local nonprofits, and the Clemon family will celebrate the dedication of the Isom Clemon Civil Rights Memorial Park in downtown Mobile on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
This park, a tribute to the legacy of Isom Clemon, is located at 520 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., directly across from the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1410 — a key meeting place in Mobile during the Civil Rights era and an organization Clemon led for years.
More than $1.4 million has recently been invested into the park through a collaborative effort between the City of Mobile, the Mobile County Commission, the Downtown Mobile Alliance and the Rotary Club of Mobile. Since 2016, local officials have worked with the Clemon family, the ILA Local 1410, and various community stakeholders to bring the plans for this “pocket park” together.
Today, Isom Clemon Civil Rights Memorial Park features improved seating, new sidewalks, enhanced landscaping, new lighting, and a unique play area designed with input from children at nearby Florence Howard Elementary School. It also features multiple public art installations, including:
- Bronze Statue of Isom Clemon: An 8-foot-9-inch bronze statue, accompanied by educational relief plaques, honoring Isom Clemon’s contributions to African American labor in Mobile and his pivotal role in the local Civil Rights movement. The statue was created by Steven Whyte Sculpture Studios following a nationwide contest overseen by the Mobile Arts Council.
- The Guardian of Labor, Liberty, and Love: This stainless-steel sculpture, created by local artists Charles Smith and Frank Ledbetter, commemorates the men and women of ILA Local 1410. Inspired by African textiles and symbols, it represents the efforts of ILA members to be respected for their labor, to achieve true liberty, and to share their love of life with all people. It was commissioned by the Rotary Club of Mobile and Main Street Mobile.
On Wednesday, January 29, at 8:30 a.m., members of the public and media are invited to a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for the park’s grand reopening. This event will bring together elected leaders, stakeholders and representatives from the many organizations involved in this collaborative partnership.