PPC proclaims Dec. 19 Percy M. Griffin Day
Dec 15th, 2010 | By Terri Sercovich | Category: news
From left, Councilmembers Burghart Turner and Lynda Banta, Director of Public Service Byron Williams, District 1 Councilman-elect P.V. Griffin, and Councilmen Jerry Hodnett, Chairman Don Beshel, Stuart Guey and Jay Friedman.
Dec. 19 will officially be Percy Murphy Griffin Day in Plaquemines Parish. The council unanimously passed the legislation ordaining the day in honor of the renowned local civil rights activist who died in 2004.
Percy Murphy Griffin, father of councilman-elect PV Griffin, District 1, fought in World War II as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army and when he returned to Plaquemines Parish in 1945, he was unable to register to vote due to various roadblocks, such as the courthouse being closed or staff not being present every time he went to the building.
“This went on for many years,” PV Griffin said of his father’s many attempts to register being intentionally blocked. “What he decided to do was get involved with some civil rights activists in New Orleans.”
In 1951 Percy Murphy Griffin organized the Plaquemines Parish Political and Civic Organization, and one year later the first African American voter was registered in the parish. He was also instrumental in the integration of public schools in the parish.
“He just fought for the rights of people,” said PV Griffin.
The Percy M. Griffin Jr. Community Center in Davant, named in his memory, will play host to a ceremony and celebration on the first annual Percy Murphy Griffin Day, Dec. 19, 2010 from 3 to 5 p.m.
