At Last! The St. Augustine Foot Soldiers Monument

This month, May of 2011, St. Johns County in Florida took another step towards reconciling its racial divisions: the unveiling of the St. Augustine Foot Soldiers Monument.

Photo by Carlstak

Built to honor citizens of all ages who endured harassment, beatings, jail time and worse, in their efforts to bring civil rights to that city during the 1960s, the monument was the result of many years of hard work by a nonprofit group called the St. Augustine Foot Soldiers.

As noted by Ken Bryan, chairman of the St. Johns County Commission, in the St. Augustine Record, the fundraising efforts of the St. Augustine Foot Soldiers included screenings of Jeremy Dean's "Dare Not Walk Alone," the award-winning documentary about local events that precipitated passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

These screenings served a double purpose, raising funds while also raising awareness of just how great were the sacrifices of the Foot Soldiers. And throughout the movie you see the brilliance of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s strategy of non-violence, often orchestrated by Andrew Young, and executed by "ordinary" men, women, and sometimes children, who became, through their actions, "extraordinary."

As a nation, we owe these foot soldiers a debt of gratitude for daring to put their lives on the line for what is right, and to cement for all Americans the equalities first envisioned in the country's constitution.

Film That Sparked Florida Civil Rights Action Screens Feb 28 in Gainesville

A lot of filmmakers set out to change the world, or at least cause something good to happen. Well Jeremy Dean achieved something like that when he made Dare Not Walk Alone, the gritty, award-winning documentary being screened next Monday, February 28, at the Gainesville Civic Media Center.

On the 9th of December, 2010, the state of Florida officially expressed regret to civil rights marchers who were beaten and jailed for protesting segregated beaches and lunch counters in St. Augustine in the 1960s, an event "set in motion by state Senator Tony Hill, a Jacksonville Democrat who unsuccessfully sought to pass a bill in the 2010 legislative session to clear the marchers' records." And here's what Sen. Hill wrote about Dare Not Walk Alone shortly after seeing the film for the first time:

"The documentary was so moving that, as chairman of the Black Caucus of the State of Florida, I have filed a bill for the 2007 legislative session in the House and the Senate to have all records cleared for anyone who was arrested because of segregated laws. That is how compelling the film was to me."

There is no other civil rights documentary like Dare Note Walk Alone. We hope you can make it to this screening, a fitting way to end Black History Month. More screening info.

Dare Not Walk Alone Documentary Has Made a Difference: But the pace of change is too slow

Things can change for the better and movies can help make positive change happen, we just wish the world moved faster. On Thursday the 9th of last month, the state of Florida officially expressed regret to civil rights marchers who were beaten and jailed for protesting segregated beaches and lunch counters in St. Augustine in the 1960s, as detailed in this report in the Tampa Bay Tribune and documented in Dare Not Walk Alone.

As the article notes, the highly emotional events of last December 9th "were set in motion by state Sen. Tony Hill, a Jacksonville Democrat who unsuccessfully sought to pass a bill in the 2010 legislative session to clear the marchers' records." What the article does not mention is that Sen. Tony Hill himself was set in motion by Dare Not Walk Alone. Here's what he wrote about the film back in 2006:

"The documentary was so moving that, as chairman of the Black Caucus of the State of Florida, I have filed a bill for the 2007 legislative session in the House and the Senate to have all records cleared for anyone who was arrested because of segregated laws. That is how compelling the film was to me."

We applauded Sen. Hill for his actions then, and we applaud the Florida legislature and departing Governor Crist for this recent step in the right direction. However, I am sure that Sen. Hill is just as frustrated as we are that it has taken more than 45 years for this expression of regret to emerge. And it should not have taken 3 years for Sen. Hill's bill to result in action, and even then an action which falls short of a blanket pardon and clearing of criminal records that have encumbered these heroic marchers for decades (apparently it will be up to individual law enforcement agencies to clear the records, if they decide to do so).

But this was at least a step in the right direction, and it makes us feel better about all the time and money and effort we put into making the film. I guess it was unrealistic to expect one film to change the world overnight, but perhaps incrementally, over time, it will chip away at the lingering issues of racial injustice that still must be addressed.

Dare Not Walk Alone Available as Internet Video on Demand

With Martin Luther King Jr. Day approaching we wanted to let you know there are several ways to watch Dare Not Walk Alone, a documentary which portrays the genius of the philosophy of non-violence that Dr. King preached.

This movie is not your typical salute to Dr. King. This is a gritty portrait of the beatings and abuse that his supporters endured, without fighting back, in order to force the passage of the first civil rights act.

Furthermore, this documentary places in context a series of events in Florida that were wiped from the historical record for many years until director Jeremy Dean researched the newsreel archives and oral history of 1964 in St. Johns County, uncovering injustices that linger to this day.

In addition to purchasing the DVD from Amazon.com or Walmart.com, you can also, if you have a broadband Internet connect, rent the movie over the web from Amazon.com.

A further option is to buy a digital version from Amazon.

Great to See: In-depth interview with Tom Roche, a force at work behind so many good scenes

You probably don't know the name Tom Roche, but I bet you've seen and admired this work. Tom has edited a ton of great video and film over the years, from early R.E.M. music video to Spinal Tap's recent Unwigged and Unplugged, and now Harry Shearer's New Orleans documentary The Big Uneasy.

Quite the range you might say, not to mention Tom's own documentary feature Alley Pat, the Music is Recorded, which won the audience prize at the 2010 Atlanta Film Festival.

So what has Tom Roche got to do with Dare Not Walk Alone? Well, without Tom the film would probably not be out there today, on DVD, in regional theaters, for rent at NetFlix and digital download from Amazon and BestBuy. Tom did not direct Dare Not Walk Alone and he didn't exactly edit it, what Tom did is make it possible for Jeremy Dean to take the film to the next level.

Here's what happened. Tom went to see an early cut of Dare Not Walk Alone at an indie film festival in Atlanta. He was so moved by the screening that he perusased his boss at Atlanta's Crawford Communications to give Jeremy access to the kind of high-end editing and sound sweetening equipment most indie filmmakers can only dream about (because they sure can't afford to buy or rent it).

Then Tom and Crawford donated untold hours to help Jeremy remix the movie, not once, but twice, to include the footage of the housefire that destroyed a setting central to the film's story. All of us at Dare Not Walk Alone are forever grateful to Tom for his efforts on the film's behalf. And we are delighted to see him get some of the long overdue recognition he deserves for his tireless work on behalf of telling important stories. Check out the in-depth interview at Creative Loafing.

Rent Civil Rights Doc "Dare Not Walk Alone" at BestBuy's CinemaNow

The ways of watching a movie they are a'changing, and we can now offer one more way to watch Dare Not Walk Alone: the CinemaNow digital rental service from BestBuy. Click here to check it out.

Digital rental of the film will cost you $3.99. You can also buy it digitally for $9.95. Be sure to check out the compatibility of your hardware before downloading. (BTW, if you do watch the movie using this service we'd love to hear about your experience.)

Enjoy the movie!

Watch on Amazon Video on Demand: The civil rights story like you've never seen it before

Just a quick update to let you know there is another way to watch the NAACP Image Award-nominated movie Dare Not Walk Alone: Amazon Video on Demand.

Amazon Video on Demand means you can buy the movie for $14.99 or get a 7-day rental for just $1.99.
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Black History Month Movie Suggestion: Dare Not Walk Alone

May we suggest, for this year's Black History Month, you watch this film: Dare Not Walk Alone. You can watch the trailer and read all about this award-winning civil rights documentary on IMDB  and Rotten Tomatoes where it has excellent ratings (8.8/10 and 86%).

[Update, 2025: Sadly, you can no longer rent Dare Not Walk Alone on NetFlix or Amazon Prime due to the exorbitant cost of licensing the old TV news footage in the film.] 

Amazon still offers Dare Not Walk Alone on DVD and you can find used DVDs on eBay US and eBay UK.

Why watch Dare Not Walk Alone? Consider these unsolicited comments people have made about the film:

The issues of legacy and unmet challenges of the movement are nowhere better addressed than in your film
~~ Dr. Chris Magoc, Mercyhurst College, PA

Films like this give me knowledge and a hope that maybe I can do something to change the world.
~~ Ian Soto, Orlando

An excellent film, compelling, painful, a story that needs to be told-–the change already taking place in St. Augustine is a small but positive and hopeful step.
~~ Peggy Sheffield, St. Petersburg, FL

Wow! Been in Florida ten years and had no idea all this happened and is still going on. Thanks for enlightening me!
~~ Eva Krzewinski, Altamonte Springs

Amazing film! Opened my eyes to something I had never truly understood. You guys are doing an amazing job. Keep it up!
~~ Melissa Soto, Orlando, FL

A powerful real life story that many people don’t know about. Great footage. Strong music.
~~ Darren Zanolini, Orlando.

Excellent depiction of the complexity of racial and class struggle in Florida and the continued relevance of race and socioeconomic status in American life. Great connection between the roles of housing, education, criminal justice system and their impacts on continuing life choices.
~~ Dorcas Gilmore

Clarksville Screening of Dare Not Walk Alone: January 19, with panel and reception

From Clarkesville Online:

At 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 19 in Clement Auditorium, a documentary, titled “Dare Not Walk Alone,” will be shown, with a panel discussion to follow. The film discusses how the citizen reaction in St. Augustine, Florida, to the demonstration may have contributed to the signing into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Panelists will include Dr. C. Alvin Hughes, professor of history at APSU, and Jimmie Garland, president of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Branch of the NAACP. A reception also will be held in the WNDAACC.

Check out Clarksville Online

Dare Not Walk Alone Screening, St. Augustine, Friday 15, and other Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Events.

Dare Not Walk Alone will be screened on Friday, Jan 15 at 7:00PM at St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church, St Augustine, FL. This documentary about St. Augustine's role in the civil rights movement during the early 60's features seldom seen footage of Dr. King, including his arrest in Florida (for trying to get a cup of tea at a local restaurant). St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church is at 37 Lovett Street.

On Saturday, January 16, David Nolan, local historian, will coduct a train tour of the Freedom markers throughout St. Augustine. $10.00 donation will benefit ACCORD. Reservations are necessary. (904) 823-9688.

On Sunday, January 17, David Nolan will be speaking at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of St. Augustine at 10:30AM.
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