Under clear skies and on a beautiful spring morning, the Englewood community gathered on Thursday, May 7, 2026, as the Englewood Public School District, in partnership with Englewood Makes History, the New Jersey Historical Commission, and community leaders, proudly unveiled a New Jersey Black Heritage Trail marker at Dr. Leroy McCloud Elementary School — formerly Cleveland Elementary School — commemorating the historic 1963 student sit-ins that helped challenge segregation and advance educational equity in Englewood and across New Jersey.
The unveiling honored the courageous students, families, and community advocates whose actions became a pivotal moment in local civil rights history.
The marker is part of the statewide New Jersey Black Heritage Trail initiative, legislation signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy in September 2022. According to historian and Englewood Makes History founder Dr. David Colman, the Cleveland Elementary site became the 10th official Black Heritage Trail marker unveiled statewide and the only site in Bergen County currently recognized with a physical marker.
The recognition stemmed from Dr. Colman’s ongoing Englewood Makes History initiative, a community-based project dedicated to collecting, preserving, and digitizing primary historical sources connected to the history of Englewood.
Remembering the 1963 Student Sit-Ins
During the ceremony, Dr. Colman reflected on the significance of the 1963 sit-ins, noting that they were among the first school sit-ins of their kind in the northern United States and helped challenge de facto segregation in New Jersey schools.
“In the early 1960s, Lincoln School stood as more than just a building,” Dr. Colman shared during his historical reflection. “For many Black families in Englewood’s Fourth Ward, it represented something deeply unjust.”
He recounted how, on May 6, 1963, Black elementary students quietly entered Cleveland Elementary School and occupied classrooms in protest of segregation and unequal educational opportunities. Their actions ultimately contributed to the desegregation of Englewood schools later that year.
The event also received regional media attention, including coverage from CBS New York, which highlighted the unveiling of the marker commemorating the student-led sit-ins at the formerly all-white Cleveland Elementary School.
Honoring Student Voices and Civil Rights Legacy
Students remained at the center of the NJ Black Heritage Trail Marker Unveiling as students, families, alumni, elected officials, and community leaders gathered together outside McCloud Elementary School to honor the courage and legacy of the young people who helped reshape Englewood’s history through the 1963 sit-ins.
The ceremony began with welcoming remarks from Dr. David Colman, founder of Englewood Makes History, who reflected on the bravery of the elementary-aged students whose peaceful actions helped reshape educational opportunities in Englewood. Students from McCloud Elementary School performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” continuing a meaningful district tradition rooted in honoring Black history, culture, and community.
Throughout the event, speakers emphasized the importance of preserving local civil rights history and ensuring future generations understand the role young people played in advancing social justice.
Principal Joe Armental reminded students that the same courage demonstrated by children in 1963 continues to live within the halls of McCloud Elementary today, encouraging students to “continue to rise, continue to lead, continue to make history.”
Superintendent Dr. Marnie Hazelton reflected on the deeply personal significance of the ceremony as the daughter of civil rights activists, reminding students that “progress does not happen by chance. It happens because ordinary people make the extraordinary decision to stand up for what is right.”
Mayor Michael Wildes noted that the sit-ins demonstrated that the struggle for civil rights “was not confined to the American South,” but also unfolded in communities like Englewood, where students and families worked together to demand equal opportunities in education.
Ramapo College President Dr. Cindy Jebb reflected on the enduring impact of the students’ actions, sharing, “Their courage in the face of hostility and rejection helped spark changes in our state's laws that helped bend the moral arc of a community and a country toward justice.”
One of the most powerful moments of the ceremony came as original sit-in participants and descendants of local civil rights leaders shared personal reflections directly with students in attendance, reinforcing the importance of understanding history, standing up for equity, and continuing the work of building a more just future.
Ronald Rollieson, who participated in the sit-ins as a student, reflected on the determination of families who fought for equal educational opportunities, sharing, “We fought for an education. Nobody gives anything away.”
Community members Francis Hannah and Pam Major, daughter of civil rights advocate Russell C. Major, also reflected on the sacrifices and leadership of parents, activists, and ordinary residents who organized for change in Englewood.
A Lasting Legacy
The historical marker now stands permanently outside McCloud Elementary School as both a tribute and educational landmark — ensuring the story of the 1963 student sit-ins remains visible for generations to come.
As Dr. Colman reminded attendees during the unveiling, “Change is not only made by powerful leaders. It is made by ordinary people, and sometimes by children.”
If you missed the ceremony, please watch our recorded livestream to experience this historic event and hear directly from students, civil rights advocates, community leaders, and original sit-in participants who helped bring this important chapter of Englewood’s history to life.
🔗 Watch the Recorded Livestream: