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JIM AUCHMUTEY

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JIM AUCHMUTEY

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An emotional evening

April 1, 2015 Jim Auchmutey

We had our first book event for "The Class of '65" last night at the Carter Library in Atlanta, and it couldn't have gone better. Some 250 people came, so many that they were sitting in the aisles and on the edge of the stage and in an overflow room with a remote video hookup. For a while, they were turning people away at the door (including a former editor of mine -- sorry about that!). After a generous introduction from Hank Klibanoff, I talked about the book and read a couple of excerpts, choking up at one point. But the best part was when the hero, Greg Wittkamper, came to the lectern and spoke about his experiences in high school. All these years later, he cried at some of the memories. We were pleased to see several people from the book in attendance: Lenny and Jan Jordan, children of Koinonia co-founder Clarence Jordan; Charles Browne, son of Koinonia stalwart Con Browne who drove all the way from West Virginia to be with us; Sam Mahone, one of the young activists who pushed for civil rights in Americus during the 1960s; Warren Fortson, a lawyer who worked for racial progress in Sumter County and was hounded for his efforts; and some of Greg's classmates, including Robertiena Freeman Fletcher, one of the first black students at Americus High and a bright, inspiring profile in courage herself. There was so much love and support in that room. What an evening. Thank you, Atlanta. 

Tags The Class of '65, Jimmy Carter Library, Jim Auchmutey, Greg Wittkamper, Koinonia, civil rights
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