The Canton Freedom House, which once served as the headquarters of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) during the Civil Rights Movement, has been honored by the state of Mississippi.
A new marker on the Mississippi Freedom Trail, the Canton Freedom House once housed CORE organizer George Raymond Jr. as he organized protests and voter registration drives. The home was rented to Raymond by Mississippians George and Rembert Washington as a safe space for him to fulfill his mission to advance freedom for Black citizens.
In 1964, white supremacists fired shots into the facility and attempted to bomb it. Civil rights leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and James Meredith, used the Freedom House as a safe place and planning site.
“The Canton Freedom House stands as a testament to ordinary people who risked everything for freedom,” Visit Mississippi director Rochelle Hicks said. “Its place on the Mississippi Freedom Trail is a part of ensuring their courage and accomplishments never fade from our collective memory.”
Today, the structure is the last surviving CORE Freedom House in Mississippi. Restored and operated as a museum by Glen Cotton, grandson of the Washingtons, the home features photographs, articles, and memorabilia. Guided tours are available by appointment.