MEDIA ADVISORY: MSU to hold 'Remembering Freedom Summer' conference

Contact: Leah Barbour

WHAT: Mississippi State University will hold the "Remembering Freedom Summer: Building a Better Future" in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Summer Project.

WHERE:Colvard Student Union, including the second-floor Bill R. Foster Ballroom, the first-floor Dawg House and various rooms for breakout sessions.

WHEN: Oct. 19, 5-7 p.m., dinner and staged scenes from "Freedom High."

Oct. 20, 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m., plenary and breakout sessions.

Oct. 21, 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m., plenary and breakout sessions.

WHO:While the conference is free and open to the public, participants should register in advance at www.aas.msstate.edu/fsc/reg. Recognized scholars from MSU and other universities all over the country will speak, as well as Numerous Freedom Summer volunteers, students, activists and photographers, including:

--Freedom Summer volunteer Chude Allen.

--Colum Law Firm attorney and founder Wilbur Colom.

--1961 Freedom Rider and Freedom Summer activist Dave Dennis.

--Freedom Summer organizer Doris Derby.

--Freedom Summer activist Anthony Harris.

--Tougaloo College President Beverly Hogan.

--Mississippi NAACP President Derrick Johnson.

--MSU President Mark E. Keenum.

--Freedom Summer volunteer Mark Levy.

--Freedom Summer organizer Hollis Watkins.

--Former Mississippi Gov. William Winter.

PHOTO

OPPS:Photo and video opportunities will be available throughout the conference.

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INFO:Visit http://www.aas.msstate.edu/fsc/schedule/ to see the complete schedule of all the sessions, and go to http://www.aas.msstate.edu/fsc/guests/ for biographical information about the speakers.

MSU's African-American Studies program is sponsoring the two-day conference; more information is available at www.aas.msstate.edu, or contact organizer Linda Miller at lmiller@aas.msstate.edu or 662-325-0587.