SEPTA today re-dedicated the Cecil B. Moore Station to honor the legacy of its namesake, and unveiled a plaque and artwork highlighting his life and many accomplishments.
The station, which is a stop on the Broad Street Line, was originally dedicated to celebrate Cecil B. Moore in 1995. Now, a new mosaic and plaque at the station will highlight the key aspects of his story – including his military, legal and political careers, and his legacy as a civil rights leader in the City of Philadelphia.
SEPTA gathered with local elected officials, the Cecil B. Moore Freedom Fighters, Moore family members, and community leaders at the station on Monday, June 10th to announce to the public the commission and installation of the educational mosaic and plaque. The exhibit will be placed in a non-paid area of the station, which will allow both riders and the general public to come to the station to view it, and learn about Cecil B. Moore.
“SEPTA is proud to be able to honor the life and legacy of Cecil B. Moore with this exhibit at the station that is named after him,” said SEPTA General Manager Joseph M. Casey. “We invite everyone to come and see this display, and learn more about this remarkable Philadelphian.”
The Cecil B. Moore Station is one of the busiest stops on the Broad Street Line, serving over 7,500 riders daily. It serves as a transit hub for a bustling North Philadelphia community, and provides service to Temple University – where Mr. Moore attended law school – and the North Broad Street business corridor.
SEPTA partnered with the Cecil B. Moore Freedom Fighters on the exhibit, including commissioning local artist Jonathan Mandell to create the mosaic, which was made using ceramic tile embellished with hand-blown glass shards, metals and various semi-precious stones and minerals.
The central panel of the piece, which measures approximately eight-feet long by four-feet wide, depicts Cecil B. Moore in his role as a community leader and public speaker. It includes a famous quote from Mr. Moore that speaks to the heart of his life’s work: “Stand up and be an American Citizen and exercise your rights.” The upper left portion features Cecil B. Moore with fellow civil rights advocates, including Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and famed Philadelphia radio broadcaster Georgie Wood. Below is a depiction of Cecil B. Moore leading a desegregation rally at Girard College.
The mosaic and the plaque will be prominently displayed on a main wall in the northeast section of the station, which is bordered by the Cecil B. Moore Plaza on Temple University’s campus.