Spfld museum celebrates civil rights

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Monday is the start of Black History Month. On Sunday the Museum of Springfield History unveiled an exhibit tracing the civil rights movement in the city during the 1960s.

Students attending the Springfield Renaissance School created the exhibit based on interviews with Springfield civil rights activists and others who lived through that historic time.

One student told 22News, he was impressed with the words of activist and now Springfield State Representative Ben Swan.

"You are put on this Earth by the creator and your objective is to make the Earth a better place by the time you leave. I really think that people who were around then succeeded in making the Earth a better place for you and for me to exist," said Andrew Gresham.

Students agreed, the civil rights exhibit is an excellent way to launch the western Massachusetts observance of Black History Month.