Franklin Florence remembered as 'Rochester's most notable citizen since Frederick Douglass'

Hundreds gathered at a memorial Friday night in downtown Rochester to celebrate the renowned civil rights leader Rev. Franklin Florence.

Minister Olu Shabazz asked those in attendance, "How do you say goodbye to an icon?"

Florence, who died last week at age 89, was founding president of the grassroots group FIGHT, which decades ago stood up to major employers Kodak and Xerox and pressured them to train and hire more Black people. FIGHT also pushed for investigations into police brutality, for greater Black representation in community agencies, for desegregated public schools.

More:Franklin Florence, civil rights leader, dies at 89

Inside Central Church of Christ, photographs of Florence showed moments where he left his mark, including in the aftermath of the 1964 riots and uprising, during the struggle for opportunity at Kodak and while standing by his friend Malcolm X days before the Muslim minister's assassination.

In honor of Rev. Florence's contributions, the Florence family received a key to the city and Monroe County from Rochester Mayor Malik Evans and Monroe County Executive Adam Bello.

"He planted so many seeds," Mayor Malik Evans said. "My generation can learn a lot from the organizational skills of Franklin Florence."

Other speakers included Demond Meeks, Joe Morelle, and historian Laura Warren Hill.

"He became Rochester's most notable citizen since Frederick Douglass," Hill said.

While mourners honored a legacy, many spoke about what a new generation can learn from Rev. Florence. His daughter-in-law Felicia Florence said the Black community in Rochester must continue the fight.

"When we become the guardians of the story, we have to continue to have these discussions at our dinner tables," Felicia Florence said.

Democrat and Chronicle reporter Justin Murphy contributed to this report.Contact Robert Bell at: rlbell@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @byrobbell & Instagram: @byrobbell. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Franklin Florence funeral services held in Rochester NY