The Cecil B. Moore Philadelphia Freedom Fighters celebrated the 50th anniversary of the march to desegregate Girard College on May 1.

Under the leadership of the late Cecil B. Moore, President of the Philadelphia branch of the NAACP, civil rights activists marched around the gates of Girard College to desegregate it in 1965. The march lasted for 7 months and 17 days. Their fight for civil rights was so important that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. even showed up to speak in support of the protest.

Girard College was finally desegregated in 1968. Afterwards, four African American boys enrolled in the school, of whom were at the anniversary event.

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To commemorate the first day of the historic march, Cecil B. Moore Philadelphia Freedom Fighters told their stories of their protest, including police harassment and brutality, similar to the current situation in Baltimore.

After reliving sharing their memories, the Freedom Fighters marched around the gates of the school singing protest songs and chanting. The march ended with them entering the gates, in tears, and greeted on the steps of Founder's Hall by mostly minorities students, Clarence D. Armbrister, president of the school and Mayor Michael Nutter.