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The eyes of the nation were on one Florida city fifty years ago this month. Racial demonstrations in St. Augustine captured the nation’s attention, and gave momentum to the Civil Rights Act.

A 1964 video was used as a training video for state troopers, but it’s also an account of mounting racial tensions in St. Augustine.

The man behind these demonstrations is one of the latest inductees into the Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame.

Now 85, civil rights activist Dr. Robert Hayling says 50 years later, much still remains to be done.

“Some improvement,” Hayling said. “Some.” We asked if it was enough. “No,” he said.

Hayling credits beach demonstrations for opening the white sandy beaches to people of color.

“It gave us a portion of our civil rights for the usage of the beaches, which were public facilities,” said Hayling.

Because the nation was watching, television cameramen were often the targets of white demonstrators.

With the nation watching and the Senate unsure of what to do with Civil Rights, the nightly pictures of demonstrators and violence in St. Augustine tipped the balance.

When the Civil Rights Act of 1964 finally went to the president, demonstrations were suspended.

Despite numerous honors, Robert Hayling says demonstrators still haven’t gotten what they wanted when demonstrations began… which was a bi-racial commission to solve problems.