PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG) — One of the strongest forces of the Civil Rights Movement along the Gulf Coast, Reverend H.K. Matthews, passed away on Monday at 97 years old.
“He was very caring,” long-time friend Michael Jackson said. “He cared for my family; he cared for your family.”
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Reverend Matthews advocated for the integration and equal hiring of the Black community in downtown Pensacola during the 1960s. He led many counterprotests in Downtown Pensacola, with one of the most memorable being to remove the “Rebel” mascot formerly used by Escambia High School.
He was arrested 35 times in his fight for equality…