Commentator, civil rights activist and politician Frank Smith Jr., who grew up in Newnan, spoke about his involvement in the civil rights movement during the annual Atkinson-Arnall Dinner.
Smith is best known for establishing the African American Civil War Memorial and an accompanying museum. It is the only national memorial to honor African Americans who fought in the Civil War.
The dinner is named for William Yates Atkinson and Ellis Gibbs Arnall, the two Georgia governors who were from Coweta County.
