Tybee Island’s Juneteenth hosts special ‘wading in the water’ tradition

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) – Rain did not stop residents from gathering at Tybee Island on Juneteenth to continue a tradition that remembers the town’s civil rights history.

“It feels very cathartic,” said Julia Pearce, co-founder of Tybee MLK Human Rights organization and event organizer.

Thunderstorms nearly forced organizers to cancel this year’s event, but participants celebrated despite the weather.

History of the wade-in protests

The annual “wading in the water” celebration recreates a 1960s protest in which 11 black college students were arrested for wading at a whites-only beach on Tybee Island…

Story continues

TRENDING NOW

LATEST LOCAL NEWS