Virginia celebrates civil rights icon, Barbara Johns Day

PRINCE EDWARD, VA (WWBT) - On April 23, Virginia celebrated the first-ever Barbara Johns Day.

The late civil rights activist grew up in Prince Edward County. Exactly 67 years ago, she led her fellow African American high school students in a walkout to protest the inequality of segregated schools.

She then started a lawsuit that became part of the Brown V. Board of Education case that eventually ended school segregation.

The state building on Ninth Street in Richmond is named in her honor.

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