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Commissioners direct preservation of historic county jail cells after Newton 6 testimony
Summary
Following testimony from Representative Tyrone Brooks and preservation experts, the board directed staff to preserve the jail’s cell blocks and pursue formal historic recognition rather than removing the cells for repurposing.
The Newton County Board of Commissioners voted to preserve the historic jail cells in the county’s old jail after testimony from Representative Tyrone Brooks, survivors of the “Newton 6” era and preservation specialists.
Representative Tyrone Brooks, who was detained in the jail in 1970, urged the board to retain the cell blocks as part of the county’s historical record: "If you remove the cell blocks, there is no jail. It's just a building," Brooks said. He asked that the cells remain intact so future generations can understand what took place there.
Dr. Karsheek Alvarado, CEO of Preserve Black Atlanta and…
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