Baltimore Colts and Westminster

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Subject

Untitled, Bob Adelman (1930–2016), Westminster, Maryland, 1962. Courtesy Bob Adelman Estate

Description

In 1963, CORE began targeting counties excepted from Maryland’s Public Accommodations Law, including Carroll County. Prior attempts to integrate restaurants in Carroll County were met with intimidation by police and citizens as well as anti-protest ordinances. Rather than picketing restaurants directly, CORE targeted the Baltimore Colts Football Team and their training camp in Westminster. They publicly argued that the Colts’ decision to train in the county was akin to supporting segregation and a threat to their Black players and fans. At the same time, CORE members met with Colts leadership, after which the team threatened to leave Westminster if restaurants did not integrate. Most restaurants in Carroll County integrated following the threat.

Source

I said, ‘We want the Colts to leave Westminster because your players can’t eat in town. There are 148 restaurants and only one serves. And spectators who are Black and come up . . . to watch the training . . . can’t eat in any of these restaurants.’” — John Roemer III Oral History

Geolocation

Citation

“Baltimore Colts and Westminster,” Passion and Purpose, accessed March 28, 2024, https://passionandpurpose.omeka.net/items/show/10.