The Progressive Group and the late Minister Nelson Bascome will be honoured tonight with the newly created 'Trailblazers Award'.

The new award was announced yesterday by Rolfe Commissiong, the Bermuda Race Relations Initiative and CURE.

A spokesman said: "The Trailblazer Awards will provide an opportunity to honour and celebrate those persons in our society who fought for social justice and have contributed to community development."

Fifty years ago the Progressive Group was responsible for the Theatre Boycott, which set into motion the end of segregation in Bermuda. The 1959 boycott was initially dubbed a 'storm in a teacup' by a white MP when it began on June 16. In reality, two weeks of peaceful rallies outside Bermuda's theatres at which protesters got their message out by distributing leaflets and using talented orators on soapboxes, had a massive effect.

By the end of the boycott on July 1, the back of Bermuda's officially sanctioned segregation policy had been broken. It led to desegregation in theatres, followed by the lifting of the colour bar in hotels, restaurants and schools, while progress continued through Roosevelt Brown's Universal Adult Suffrage movement, bringing the vote to all Bermuda's citizens. Such was the climate of intimidation, most of the names of the Theatre Boycott leaders were kept hidden for some 40 years.

The original Progressive Group, whose bravery was finally acknowledged in 1999, were: Vera and Rudolph Commissiong, Izola and Gerald Harvey, William Francis, Florenz and Clifford Maxwell, Stanley Ratteray, Marva Phillips, Esme and Lancelot Swan, Erskine Simmons, Clifford Wade, Eduord and Rosalind Williams, Coolridge Williams, Eugene Woods and William Walwyn.

Minister Bascome will also be honoured. The Minister, known as man of the people died suddenly on July 14 this year. His funeral was attended by thousands of members of the public.

Tonight Premier Ewart Brown will present the keynote address at banquet at the Southampton Princess to honour them.

Also in attendance will be Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation Neletha Butterfield.