A social justice group reminded people to always challenge the status quo as the anniversary of a landmark desegregation movement was celebrated.

Imagine Bermuda gathered a group of 30 to honour the 1959 Theatre Boycott on its 66th anniversary.

Keevon Minors, who was invited to speak, said that a fundamental yet overlooked part of civic duty was to make our society better for all.

She said: “Citizenship also requires us to be our brothers’ keeper.

“When there is an injustice that exists, what is it that we are doing to play our role to correct that?

“There’s some things we can look at retrospectively in the Theatre Boycott of 1959 and there’s lessons that definitely have been taught through it.”

During the boycott, peaceful demonstrators refused to attend cinemas, restaurants and hotels in protest against racial segregation in those businesses.

The movement led to the breakdown of racial segregation across the island.

Ms Minors said that an important lesson from the history of the Theatre Boycott was to recognise what the movement allowed people to do today.

She urged listeners to question their own agency — their ability to effect change — and how they have put it to use personally and in their social circles.

Ms Minors said: “We love to help young people understand that they have a role to play in their present and their future and in understanding your past and the conditions that you’re in.

“So we ask you to have a reflective moment — what sort of agency have you demonstrated over time, either personally or as a collective?”

The gathering took place at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity on Church Street, and included members of government, including Kim Wilkerson, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.

Attendees included people who recalled witnessing the boycotts.

Glenn Fubler, the head of Imagine Bermuda, reminded the group that the boycott “did not happen in a vacuum”.

He explained that civil rights protests had taken place before the boycott, such as a petition to London that ended in free public education.

He added that the Theatre Boycott had inspired other movements and activists, including himself.

Mr Fubler said: “We’re all teachers and students — we’ve all got something to share.”

He added: “Let’s not get caught up in boxes. It’s a people’s movement — not only island-wide but worldwide.”

The anniversary was celebrated during Harbour Nights that evening on Front Street with music and a performance for the crowd.