Gwynn Oak Park, 1955

Women on Bus Marked “Freedom Now” for Protest at Gwynn Oak Park, by Richard Childress (1939–1984), July 1963. Maryland Center for History and Culture, H. Furlong Baldwin Library, Childress Collection, PP177.61.83

In 1955, after first trying to persuade the owners to integrate, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) began an eight-year picketing campaign against Gwynn Oak Park in Baltimore County. On July 4, 1963, hundreds of people, including religious leaders and children, from Baltimore and surrounding major metropolitan areas arrived at Gwynn Oak Park. Ultimately, 283 protestors were arrested, and national news media reported on the protest. On July 7, activists demonstrated again. Building pressure pushed Spiro Agnew, Baltimore County’s chief executive, to moderate discussion. Talks ended with Gwynn Oak Park agreeing to drop segregationist policies.