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St. Augustine activists react to Charlottesville protests

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — What happened in Charlottesville, Virginia, has sparked outrage nationwide.

America has fought hard against racism, but some say the protests there set the country back.

“I’m very used to racism in Charlottesville, but this went above and beyond. This was like watching Hitler’s Germany rise up again when you saw these people marching with lit flame torches,” historian David Nolan said.

Nolan saw the chaos in Charlottesville firsthand last week. He compares that scene to what took place in St. Augustine decades ago when the KKK rode through town terrorizing those pushing for equal rights.

The people of St. Augustine know how quickly hate and division can overtake their city, so to make sure they never forget, they keep memorabilia, arrest records and artifacts stored at the ACCORD Civil Rights Museum.

Cora Tyson, 94, was with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the front lines. He stayed at her home and loved her homemade ice tea.

Their cause was met with violence and intimidation.

“I have tried to erase it from my mind and my thoughts. I never thought St. Augustine would go violent like it did,” Tyson said.

Nolan said the demonstrations that took place in St. Augustine led to President Lyndon Johnson signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ended legal segregation.

He said it's important to stand up to hate and bigotry so that that kind of history never again rears its ugly head.

“Let us not forget it and let us not repeat it."