New play honors the life of Louisville civil rights activist Alberta Jones

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville civil rights activists will be honored as her life story is brought to life by Redline Performing Arts.

Alberta O. Jones was the first Black woman to pass the Kentucky Bar. She then became Louisville's first female prosecutor in 1965. Jones was a national leader in civil rights activism.

Jones helped educate thousands of African Americans on how to vote. She was also the lawyer who negotiated the most lucrative sports deal of her time for her neighbor, Muhammad Ali. She also helped register voters in the 60s.

In 1965, Jones was beaten and thrown into the Ohio River off the Sherman Minton Bridge. The murder has remained a mystery despite a suspect and a fingerprint.

Her legacy inspired the upcoming play, Who Killed Alberta Jones? presented by Redline Performing Arts in partnership with the Parks Alliance of Louisville.

"A local play-write, Larry Muhammad, happened to be writing a play about Alberta Jones as the park was being built, so it just felt like the perfect collaboration to finally make sure her story was told in our community," said Alonzo Ramont, artistic director and founder of Redline Performing Arts.

It will be hosted at Alberta O. Jones Park on July 13 and at Victor Jory Theater from Aug. 8-10. For tickets, click here.

Last year, the first phase of the Alberta O. Jones Park in the city's California neighborhood was completed and opened. It features a mosaic of her portrait composed of hundreds of individual photographs celebrating the California neighborhood. The park was also the first in the city to have complementary, high-speed Wi-Fi.

Alberta O. Jones Park is located along Maple Street between Dr. W.J. Hodge and 25th streets. A "Hometown Hero" banner was unveiled for Jones in October 2017. It hangs on the side of the River City Bank building at the corner of Sixth Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard in downtown Louisville.

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