We were first introduced to General Larry Platt as he walked into the American Idol judging room, we assumed he was just a cooky old guy trying to get some TV time. His song, “Pants on the Ground” spread rapidly over the internet portals and quickly became a hit. But this crazy old guy is actually an American hero.
Turns out Platt actually has his own official holiday in Atlanta, called Larry Platt Day on September, 14, 2001 because of his “priceless and immeasurable contribution to society.” As a student in 1963 of Martin Luther King, Jr., Platt worked with the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). The SNCC organized “student sit-in and fought segregation in restaurants and other public places.” He also experienced the violence that came along with the Civil Rights Movement when he was beaten while partaking in a march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama on the historic “Bloody Sunday“.
Platt’s efforts also extended to the United Youth Adult Conference and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He was given his nickname, “General” by Reverend Hosea Williams, a civil rights leader, because of his extraordinary efforts in the movement. He continues in his efforts as a current community activist in Atlanta, Georgia.
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