Biloxi wade-in participants to be celebrated

The NAACP is holding a commemoration this weekend for members of the Biloxi chapter who participated in the Biloxi Beach wade-ins.

During the civil rights movement, the Biloxi wade-in was a series of protests conducted by local African-Americans on the beaches of Biloxi.

Between 1959 and 1963, the demonstrations were led by Dr. Gilbert R. Mason, in an effort to desegregate 26 miles of beaches along the coast.

Those honored will be receiving commemorative plaques for their efforts in the protest.

Biloxi’s NAACP President Herschell Pargo shares, “We gone give them some plaques for being the courageous people out on the beach. You know back in 1959, that’s when it actually started, just trying to desegregate the beach and when they went out there, they met with mobs out there with chains, baseball bats.”

The commemoration celebration is scheduled for Sunday at Saint Paul United Methodist Church in Biloxi. The event starts at 3 p.m.