TUSCALOOSA-- As Black History Month comes to a close, Alabama continues to celebrate individuals who have influenced its many communities, like Judge John England. England has been active in the Civil Rights Movement for decades and his work has won him numerous honors.
On Feb. 8 The University of Alabama's System Board of Trustees announced that the new freshman dormitory would be named after England, The John H. England Jr. Hall.
"The first thought I had was I can't think of anything in particular that I've done that would merit such an honor. And it is a great honor. I am honored by it and I'm humbled by it," England said.
Dr. Stuart Bell, the President of the University of Alabama says he hopes those who see John England's name on the freshman hall will be inspired by his commitment to service and leadership.
England was appointed to the 6th circuit court in Alabama in 2001, by Governor Don Siegelman. He was re-elected without opposition in 2014. He was also one of the first African-American students to be admitted to The University of Alabama School of Law.
He was admitted to the School of Law in 1969, only six years after the Stand in the Schoolhouse Door, where Governor George Wallace attempted to prevent desegregation at The University of Alabama.
On the day that Governor Wallace promised "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever," England was enrolled in school at Tuskegee University, which was in the middle of the Civil Rights Movement.
England's career in law presented him opportunities to work with criminal law and voting rights issues, which allowed him to work extensively in the Civil Rights Movement. He represented school boards, county commissions and even the president of the NAACP, Charles Steele.
Although England had some concerns about attending UA for Law School, he believed it was the right choice for him.
"I had concerns because most of my education had been in segregated institutions," England said.
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ORIGINAL BROADCAST SCRIPT:
GOOD EVENING.
And THANKS FOR JOINING US
I'M TAMIKA ALEXANDER.
[TAKE: ANIMATION]{***ANIMATION***}
ALABAMIANS COULD SEE A TEN CENT GASOLINE TAX INCREASE OVER THE NEXT 3 YEARS....
GOVERNOR KAY IVEY AND OTHER OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THE PLAN THIS MORNING DURING A PRESENTATION IN CHILTON COUNTY. {***VO***}THE INITIATIVE IS CALLED THE REBUILD ALABAMA INFRASTRUCURE PLAN AND IF PASSED, FUNDS FROM THE TAX INCREASE WOULD GO TOWARD IMPROVING THE STATE'S ROADS, BRIDGES AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
TODAY IN MAPLESVILLE, GOVERNOR IVEY SAID NEW REVENUE GENERATED BY THE INCREASE WILL BE DISPERSED BETWEEN STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS IN ALABAMA.
IVEY SAYS TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT WAS HELD IN RURAL CHILTON COUNTY TO SHOW HOW BADLY IT NEEDED THE IMPROVEMENTS.
{***SOT FULL***}"and down this road a piece, it turns into dirt. and then when it rains, it floods, so this road and this bridge are great examples of why we need to rebuild alabaama's infrastructure. "THE GAS TAX INCREASE BILL WILL BE VOTED ON IN THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION AS PART OF A BILL SPONSORED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE BILL POOLE, FROM TUSCALOOSA.
JOHN H. ENGLAND, JUNIOR, IS A JUDGE OF THE 6TH CIRCUIT COURT IN ALABAMA.
HE WAS APPOINTED TO THE COURT BY GOVERNOR DON SIEGELMAN IN 2001.
HE WAS RE-ELECTED TO THE COURT WITHOUT OPPOSITION IN 2014.
ENGLAND WAS ONE OF THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICANS ADMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SCHOOL OF LAW.
SOT
"there was a class of 8 who was initially admitted in 1969 and I came along with some of the other individuals ronald jackson, booker ford michael figures those are the four who ultimately graduated from the law school when we came we were the first african americans to attend the ua law school"
6 YEARS EARLIER.....JUNE 11TH, 19-63, IT WAS THE FAMOUS STAND IN THE SCHOOL HOUSE DOOR" AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.
GOVERNOR GEORGE WALLACE, IN A SYMBOLIC ATTEMPT TO KEEP HIS INAUGURAL PROMISE OF "SEGREGATION NOW, SEGREGATION TOMORROW, SEGREGATION FOREVER" AND STOP THE DESEGREGATION OF SCHOOLS, STOOD AT THE DOOR OF THE AUDITORIUM TO TRY TO BLOCK THE ENTRY OF TWO BLACK STUDENTS, VIVIAN MALONE AND JAMES HOOD.
BUT, AS A STUDENT AT TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE....NOW TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY.
SOT
"tuskegee was sort of in the middle of the civil rights movement and so I saw all of the national and local civil rights came through tuskegee"
JUDGE ENGLAND SAID, ATTENDING UA'S LAW SCHOOL WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR HIM.
BUT, HE HAD SOME CONCERNS.
SOT
"i had concerns because most of my education had been in segregated institutions high schools segregated school tuskegee was predominately black and of course predominately black was 95 percent"
AS A YOUNG ATTORNEY, ENGLAND WORKED IN THE BLACK BELT....WORKING WITH CRIMINAL LAW AND VOTING RIGHTS ISSUES.
HE WORKED EXTENSIVELY IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND REPRESENTED SCHOOL BOARDS, COUNTY COMMISSIONS AND EVEN REPRESENTATIVE PRESIDENT OF THE N DOUBLE A-C-P...CHARLES STEELE.
ON FEBRUARY 8TH, JUDGE JOHN ENGLAND RECEIVED THE BIGGEST SURPRISE.
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA'S SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEES HONORED HIM BY NAMING UA'S NEW FRESHMAN DORM THE "JOHN H. ENGLAND JUNIOR HALL".
SOT
"the first thought I had was I cant think of anything in particular that i've done that would merit such an honor and it is a great honor and i am honored by it and i'm humbled by it"
PERRY COUNTY NATIVE JUDGE JOHN ENGLAND HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT FOR DECADES.
HIS WORK HAS GIVEN HIM NUMEROUS HONORS.
JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND, ENGLAND WAS RECOGNIZED AS A MINORITY OF FIRST.
WVUA 23'S JABAREE PREWITT TAKES A LOOK AT HIS LIFE.
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