Services set for local civil rights leader Kennedy

Posted on October 21, 2019
Merlin Kennedy, 92. (Photo courtesy McLean County Museum of History)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – Funeral services for local civil rights leader Merlin Kennedy have been set for Nov. 7.

Visitation for Kennedy will be held from 10:30-12:30 p.m. at Wayman AME Church in Bloomington, located at 803 West Olive Street, with the funeral service following.

Kennedy, 92, was a past president of the Bloomington-Normal NAACP. Kennedy was known for his unique style of leadership, most notably when he dressed up as a black Santa Claus.

In 1965, the NAACP was kicked out of the annual Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade for illegally entering a float that featured a black Santa Claus, according to the McLean County Museum of History. Kennedy then wore a Santa suit during a city council meeting to protest the “One Santa Rule.”

On the morning of the parade, police followed the float out of Franklin Park and cut off the driver at Main and Chestnut streets. Merlin and three others climbed down from the sleigh and walked the whole parade route waving to children.

Though police threatened to arrest him for “disturbing the peace,” Kennedy was not arrested.

Kennedy was also known for his work on fair housing in the Twin-Cities. He was named a McLean County History Maker in 2015.

Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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