Merlin Kennedy to be honored this weekend in Uptown Normal

Posted on December 11, 2019
In 2015, the first Santa’s Station NAACP weekend was held with Merlin Kennedy playing the role of Santa Claus. (Photo Town of Normal)

 

By Neil Doyle

NORMAL – The Town of Normal and the local NAACP are formally honoring the late civil rights leader Merlin Kennedy this weekend at Santa’s Station in Uptown Normal.

The weekend of Dec. 14-15 will officially be named Mr. Merlin Kennedy Weekend at Santa’s Station, according to a news release.  In 2015, the first Santa’s Station NAACP weekend was held with Kennedy playing the role of Santa Claus.

The local activist died earlier this year at the age of 92. A McLean County History Maker, Kennedy was known for standing up to racial segregation.

In 1966, Kennedy dressed up as a black Santa Claus to protest when the NAACP was kicked out of the annual Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade. He was also known for his work on fair housing in the Twin-Cities.

More information about activities this weekend at Santa’s Station can be found here.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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