On January 20, 1955 students from Morgan State College engaged in the American Civil Rights Movement’s first lunch counter sit-in. Nearly six decades later, activists return to the now abandoned Reads Drugstore site to protest its demolition by neglect. Their goal is a preserved building and a civil rights museum at the downtown drugstore.

Activists converged on the site of the former Reads Drug Store to protest against Baltimore City’s slow movement on securing the building from further damage and neglect. They cite perpetually open windows exposing structural systems to the elements as an example of the city’s ambivalent attitude toward the site.

Open window at Reads building (source: Greg Cundiff)

Rally on Saturday February 18, 2012

Demolition by Neglect from Greg Cundiff on Vimeo.

Scenes from the Rally

More information:

Save Reads Drugstore on Facebook

Baltimore Heritage, Inc.
Nonprofit historic and architectural preservation organization

Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement
Report of phone conversation between Morgan’s Dean and Reads management. 

Interview with Dr. Helena Hicks
Bill Hughes interviews Dr. Hicks about her participation in the Reads Lunch Counter Sit-ins.