ALMOST 50 years ago Bermudians took a stand against the social segregation that existed in the island with the Theatre Boycott, the watershed event that forever changed Bermuda and ended the institutionalised segregation which existed here at that time.

The boycott, organised by the Progressive Group and its leader Dr. Stanley Ratteray, began on June 15, 1959 and lasted two weeks until July 2 when theatre, hotel and restaurant owners capitulated. They announced that black people could sit wherever they wanted in cinemas and that people would no longer be turned away from restaurants or hotels because of the colour of their skin.

The Progressive Group had been meeting in secret in a Flatts home owned by Rosalind and Edouard Williams in the weeks leading up to the boycott. They planned the action taken and publicised it by dispersing flyers around the island, advising people to stay away from the theatres. They wanted a total transformation of Bermuda society and to end the social injustices of the time.

This fall Bermuda will commemorate the movement that is responsible for breaking the chains of oppression by holding a reception and unveiling a statue marking the boycott commissioned from Bermudian sculptor Chesley Trott (seen with the work above).

The statue, which is eight feet tall and was cast in New York City, will have a home in front of City Hall.

It was under the remit of the Bermuda National Gallery that the project was launched, but the Corporation of Hamilton stepped in to manage and complete the project because of time constraints.

Details as to the dates of the reception and unveiling have not yet been released.