Acid Rain

    When a group of black and white protesters jumped into the swimming pool at the Monson Motel in St. Augustine, Florida, an entirely white hotel where several other protests had been held. In response to the protest the owner of the hotel, James Brock, was photographed pouring muriatic acid into the pool to get the protesters out.

    Photographs of this, and of a policeman jumping into the pool to arrest them, were broadcast around the world and became some of the most famous images of the entire Civil Rights Movement. The photos became fodder for communist countries, who used the images to depict U.S. claims of democracy and freedom.

    AP/Wirephoto

    Comments and faves

    1. taranoel (48 months ago | reply)

      a horrific thing..it is insanity

    2. ~Kicha~ (48 months ago | reply)

      And the most insane thing about it --- right after this photo was taken a cop jumped into the water to arrest these kids!! Did absolutely nothing to the motel owner.

    3. The Nite Tripper (48 months ago | reply)

      I had never heard about these protests before...that man got caught in a very disgraceful moment...that is an interesting photo!

    4. ~Kicha~ (48 months ago | reply)

      I hadn't until very recently either.....and wouldn't surprise me if this man was looked upon highly from members of certain communities.

    5. JimReeves (48 months ago | reply)

      That is some good info.
      Unfortunatly such things still happen around the world in different forms.

    6. ~Kicha~ (48 months ago | reply)

      Thanks, JimReeves and yes unfortunately that is certainly the case.

    7. toiatoya (46 months ago | reply)

      wow, acid. really. i have not words. . .i cant believe I've never seen this infamous photo. heartbreaking. . .

    8. ~Kicha~ (46 months ago | reply)

      Truly hard to believe a human being could be that vicious...but what was even worse was that the acid thrower wasn't arrested. The kids in the pool were.

    9. MDP. and MalaYQue! added this photo to their favorites.

    10. G&M&T (39 months ago | reply)

      Never heard of such a thing!
      I always add the sentence "This picture has the 20th Century spirit", but I'm afraid cases like this still happen somewhere in the world at this day.

      This photo has THE 20th CENTURYspirit!

      Thank you for sharing it with us!

    11. ~Kicha~ (39 months ago | reply)

      A travesty of justice.....and the police arrested the kids and not the acid thrower.

    12. double{LE}, gnarley by nature, and Ncomer70 added this photo to their favorites.

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