Joseph E. Lowery With Others Holding Key to the City of Birmingham, circa 1980

Joseph E. Lowery shown holding the key to the City of Birmingham with Evelyn G. Lowery and others standing with him. Written on verso: Lowery removes the key to the City of Birmingham, Alabama from around his neck vowing never to wear it until it opens the door of justice, love, and economic progress. Lowery made the remarks before 4,000 demonstrators who were protesting the shooting death of an unarmed Black woman by a Birmingham police officer.The Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library acknowledges the generous support of the Joseph & Evelyn Lowery Institute for Justice and Human Rights, the Joseph Echols Lowery Irrevocable Trust, and other donors in supporting the processing and digitization of Morehouse College's Joseph Echols and Evelyn Gibson Lowery Collection