Mississippi Freedom Marker honors Lawrence Guyot in hometown of Pass Christian

A new marker has been added to the Mississippi Freedom Trail, commemorating an American hero and Civil Rights activist native to Pass Christian.

City leaders, family members, and friends gathered around what was once an old playground Lawrence Guyot used to play on for an unveiling of the new Mississippi Freedom Marker. Mayor Jim Rafferty said, “Here we have an integral part of the Civil Rights Movement from Pass Christian and being commemorated with a marker, it doesn’t get any better.”

Mississippi Humanities Council Program and Outreach Officer John Spann said, “The committee or the task force sought to honor him today on the Freedom Trail because of his efforts in the Civil Rights Movement, specifically geared toward Mississippi, but how his efforts in Mississippi help change America.”

There used to be a time in small town Mississippi where people would risk their lives to change the voting rights not only in Mississippi, but throughout America, for African Americans. “He helped change voting rights for Mississippians throughout the state and then also helped push for a more inclusive and equal Democratic party to represent the state in Washington. Really without his efforts and Fannie Lou Hamer’s efforts and Aaron Henry’s efforts, we would not have the Voting Rights Act that was passed or the Civil Rights Act that was passed that really made voting inclusive for all people.”

The marker not only adds to the legacy of the Guyot family, but also to the City of Pass Christian. Daughter Julie Guyot said, “It means a lot to have a marker set on the Freedom Trail when I know how central that was to my father’s heart and his vision of the world. This is the community that nourished his activism, his journey, as a man, as a politician.”

Pass Christian Alderwoman Regina Charlot said, “To find out he was native, like I am, from Pass Christian and he did all of this not just for Pass Christian, but for the State of Mississippi, it was wonderful to learn it. It was more special to get the marker here to commemorate.”