Free screening of civil rights film Thursday at Virginia Historical Society

“Freedom Riders” screening takes place Thursday evening at 6:30 PM, with commentary by Oliver W. Hill, Jr. to follow.

August 25, 2014; 11:29 AM • by Trevor Dickerson

In 1961, a small group of white and black volunteers rode public buses into the Deep South to demonstrate that interstate travel facilities remained segregated in defiance of the U.S. Supreme Court.

These Freedom Riders faced arrest and beatings in their efforts to compel the federal government to enforce the law.

Freedom Riders is the third in a series of films being shown by the Virginia Historical Society to encourage community conversations about the changing meaning of freedom and equality in contemporary American society.

The film will be screened on Thursday, August 28, at 6:30 p.m. in the Robins Family Forum at the VHS. This event is free and open to the public.

Commentary by Oliver W. Hill, Jr., Professor of Psychology at Virginia State University and an audience discussion to follow the screening.