Ceremonial Groundbreaking For Atlanta Based National Center for Civil and Human Rights

Richardson is the executive vice president of the center.

There was a time, says former Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin, when this day seemed far off in the distance.

(View video of former Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin speaking to WABE’s Rose Scott)

“Because there were a lot of challenges facing the city at the time, there are always challenges facing the city. I wasn’t sure how the broader community would respond to the idea,” says Franklin.

“The fact that it didn’t exist suggested there might not be interest and of course how do you fund something that is a new initiative.”

The idea for the center was brought to Franklin during her first term as mayor.

That credit she says goes to civil rights icons Dr. Joseph and Evelyn Lowery and Ambassador Andrew Young.

“After a period of discussion we decided that really thru the discussion with them and others that is was important to tie the civil rights movement with the human rights movement both historically and in contemporary fashion.”

That was 10 years ago.

Current Mayor Kasim Reed says Atlanta is the most appropriate place for the center.

“It’s going to be more than just a museum, it’s going to be a building and an institution that is alive, and it’s going to represent the present, the past and the future. It’s going move from new to next and from better to best.”

Center sponsors include some of Atlanta’s corporate giants such as Delta Airlines, the Home Depot and Georgia Pacific.

The Coca-Cola Company donated land for the center.

It will be located just steps from the Georgia Aquarium and Centennial Olympic Park.