Congresswoman Kelly Commemorates 50th Anniversary of Freedom Summer
In commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Freedom Summer, U.S. Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-2nd) recently organized a bus tour for youth that made stops at several historical African American sites across the Chicagoland area.
The tour visited the South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr., the DuSable Museum of African-American History, 740 E. 56th Pl., and the A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum, 10406 S. Maryland Ave. and was in honor of the men and women who fought for freedom in Chicago and across America.
“I wanted our young people see first-hand the places where African Americans fought against the injustices of segregation,” said U.S. Congresswoman Robin Kelly. “I believe that the anniversary of Freedom Summer provides the perfect opportunity to link younger generations of Americans to the struggles of past generations so they realize that freedom is an ongoing struggle.”
According to Kelly, attendees were selected based upon recommendations from community organizations including - Girls Like Me Project and the UCAN Chicago and Dolton-Riverdale School District 148.
Kelly’s staff selected the tour stops focusing on historical African American relevance.
“I’m just really excited; especially when you learn about your history, your heritage, stuff I didn’t even know of, I’m just speechless, I have no words,” said Miracle Chalmers, a De La Salle Institute freshman student.
“We know that this important, our history is important to be told,” said Joyce Jackson, Board of Education President, Dolton-Riverdale School District 148 who nominated and accompanied three students while on the tour. “I’m one of those children of the ‘60s so when I say it makes an impact and that it’s important and to commemorate this 50th anniversary so that our students will know where we came from and how we got to where we are today and how important it is to be a part of civil involvement, to vote, etc.”
Tour participants were between the ages of 13-21.
“It’s just interesting that this is the 50th [anniversary] and in Congress we’re fighting about the Voting Rights Act [of 1965] to make sure that we don’t go back to that period of time and that everyone that wants to vote has the right to vote and can vote with ease,” said Kelly.
According to History.com, Freedom Summer is the name given to the summer of 1964 when civil rights organizations Congress on Racial Equality (CORE), Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), among several others organized a voter registration drive for African Americans living in the state of Mississippi. An estimated 1,000 predominantly white volunteers traveled to Mississippi to assist in the voter registration drive.
Freedom Summer was met with intense hostility from local individuals and law enforcement which led to beatings, false arrests, arson, etc. One of the most heinous and well-known acts that took place against supporter of Freedom Summer was the murder of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner.
For more information visit http://robinkelly.house.gov/.
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