Black History Month Film, March, Event

46th Black History Month "Voting Rights are Worth the Fight" Event begins with a "Dump Trump" Unity March and Motorcade Sunday February 23.

"Voting Rights are Worth the Fight," is the theme of this year's 46th Annual People's World African American History Month celebration, to be held Sunday February 23, 2020.

The day will serve as a call to action and unity against rising open racism and white supremacy, making the 2020 elections crucial for the future of the African American freedom struggle and the freedom struggle of all peoples and the planet.

A Black History Month "Dump Trump" Unity March & Motorcade will leave at 2:30 pm from the New Haven Peoples Center 37 Howe St. and proceed to Troup School 259 Edgewood Ave. where there will be a program at 4:00 pm.

The program will feature a panel discussion opening with a 1963 Video by the SNCC Voter Project in Mississippi and remarks by Brian Steinberg, a participant in Mississippi Freedom Summer; Barbara Vereen,, Staff Director Local 34 Unite Here at Yale; Sulemy Cordova, Connecticut Students for a Dream,Wilbur Cross High School; and concluding remarks by Judge Clifton Graves, Professor of African American History.

Also on the program will be presentation of prizes in the Arts and Writing Competition Grades 8 to 12, "Harriet Tubman and The Right to Vote." and a tribute to Lula White, freedom rider and former competition judge. Also, drumming by Brian Jarawa Gray and Friends and music selections by Kompozure and Ice the Beef youth,

The march and event will bring together groups organizing against heightened racism, militarism and exploitation in the elections and beyond, toward a future of solidarity, justice, peace and sustainability where all persons can reach their full potential.

In advance of the march, the feature length documentary "Freedom Summer" will be shown at the Peoples Center on Friday, February 21 at 7 pm. Released in 2014, the film tells the story of the courageous students who came to Mississippi in the summer of 1964 to work with local organizers and African American residents to claim their right to vote and shatter the foundations of white supremacy Poster making for Sunday's march will also be part of the evening.