Greensboro seeks to take over civil rights museum
GREENSBORO, N.C.-- Greensboro City Mayor Nancy Vaughn proposed Monday that the city of Greensboro take over and operate the International Civil Rights Center and Museum.
Vaughan made the proposal during a meeting of the museum's board of directors. According to a news release from the city, a decision on the mayor's motion has been tabled for 30 days. The mayor said the offer will remain on the table for those 30 days if the board becomes interested.
Vaughan's proposal comes a week after executive director Lacy Ward Jr., was dismissed from his position after only six months. Vaughan said it would be challenging for the museum to afford another search effort for a new director at this time.
Vaughan says the move is part of the city's efforts to make the museum successful. "I think I speak for many when I suggest that we have concerns about the operations and management of the museum on both a short and long-term basis," says Vaughan.
"The proposal is a result of our focus on keeping the museum open, making it successful, and restoring its credibility as an organization that can be trusted by maintaining public meetings and records, and striving for fiscal accountability."
Greensboro's museum, which opened in 2010, stands on the site of one of the pivotal events in the civil rights movement -- the 1960 F.W. Woolworth lunch counter sit-in. Four North Carolina A&T students launched a protest on Feb. 1 of that year, sitting silently and nonviolently to demand equal service. Their actions drew international attention and sparked similar protests around the country.
The portion of the lunch counter and stools where the Ezell Blair Jr, Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil and David Richmond sat remains in its original position in the museum.
The civil rights museum started making headlines this year after city council members learned a loan payment had been authorized to museum operators even though a required audit had not been turned in to the city. The city has agreed to a $1.5 million loan to the museum in efforts to retire portions of its debt and maintain operations.
Several city council members were present at Monday's news conference. They said they were in support of Vaughan's proposal, but some had reservations.
"I think it would be a marvelous way for the museum to become sustainable and viable and you know as we reach out to the community, the city can only help making it a more valued institution and I believe it is the right way to go," said city council member Mary Kay Abuzuaiter.
"The only reservation that I would have would be based on the financial obligation that we would take on if we did start to run the museum, but I do support her on the concept. I think you have a council who is unanimously in support of keeping the museum open," said Tony Wilkins, another city council member.
According to the Greensboro City Manager Jim Westmoreland, the museum is currently running a deficit. He said it costs about $50,000 a month to run, but he thinks the city would be able to lower that cost if it took over operations.
Vaughan said if the board were to agree to the proposal, it would still have to be approved by those who invested in the museum as well as the city council. There would also be a public hearing before the council would vote.
"Our city – our country - is better for the actions of the Greensboro Four. We want to ensure that the story that is told about February 1, 1960 remains based in the city where those actions took place. That legacy is important to all of us, and we want to do what's right in trying to make the museum a sustainable destination for years to come," Vaughn said.