By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – The City of Bloomington is honoring the late Merlin Kennedy with a proclamation describing him as a “true pioneer for human rights.”

The proclamation, to be read by Mayor Tari Renner at Tuesday night’s city council meeting, states that the former local NAACP leader was “unafraid to confront unjust situations and motivated the City and our citizens to action.”

Kennedy died October 18. He was 92 years old.

Current NAACP President Linda Foster remembers Kennedy as a gentle soul.

“Every time we met, we talked about history, because he wanted to remind me, ‘don’t forget history.’ As we move forward, we need to remember where we came from, so that when we get to where we’re going, and where we’re at, we could see a difference,” Foster said.

Kennedy was named a McLean County History Maker in 2015 and was the first recipient of Bloomington’s Martin Luther King Jr. Award.

The proclamation also said Kennedy “shone the spotlight on housing, employment, and other discriminatory practices in our community.”

In 1965, the NAACP was kicked out of the annual Chamber of Commerce Christmas parade because it entered a float with a black Santa Claus.

Kennedy showed up dressed as Santa at a city council meeting to protest the so-called “One Santa Rule.”

“People have got to be able to live, and live together. I think he focused in on our community being the best that it could be, and that means getting along with each other regardless if we disagree,” Foster said.

The city council is also recognizing Senior Pastor at City of Refuge Ministries, William Bennett, and his wife, Charlatta. Bennett is being praised for reaching out to local youth and speaking out against violence.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]