May 7th 2024.
The Freedom To Learn Coalition made a powerful statement in their recent launch of a day of rallies. Their main goal was to advocate for education, racial justice, and democratic principles. The event, which took place on Friday, May 3rd, brought together various activist groups from civil rights, LGBTQ+, education, and social justice. Scholars and students also joined in to support the cause, participating in marches across the country to defend the freedom to learn.
The rallies were held in two major cities, New York City and Washington D.C., and served as declarations for multiracial democracy and the fight against assaults on antiracist ideology and racial justice. It was a powerful and united display of the importance of safeguarding the freedom to learn. This event was especially significant as it coincided with the 57th anniversary of the first Freedom Summer, a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement.
One of the highlights of the day was the launch of Freedom Summer 2024, a campaign that pays tribute to the historic Freedom Summer of 1964. This event brought national attention to the injustices faced by Black people in Mississippi, particularly in the areas of education and community engagement. It was a turning point in the fight for civil rights and paved the way for progress in the years to come.
Freedom Summer 2024 also marks 70 years since the landmark Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education. The supporters of the campaign, joined by Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw, Co-Founder and President of the African American Policy Forum, were determined to reject ongoing efforts to suppress Black and diverse history, and hinder inclusive democracy for all. In her powerful speech, Crenshaw emphasized the crucial role of education in our society, stating that "the freedom to learn is the freedom to live." She also highlighted the tactics of those who oppose democracy and equality, who try to take away our books, concepts, and knowledge in an attempt to maintain their power.
The speakers at the rallies brought attention to the existing dangers facing our democracy, including attacks on books written by Black and LGBTQ+ authors, limitations on curriculum in schools, voter suppression efforts, and other regressive policies promoted by The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025. Wisdom Cole, the National Director of Youth and College Division for the NAACP, reminded us of the ongoing battle for Black history to be taught in schools, despite the hard-won victory of desegregation less than a century ago. He also made it clear that the current war on "wokeness" is, in reality, a war on Black America. Cole passionately stated, "Diversity, equity, and inclusion are the future. We refuse to live in the past."
This day of rallies was a powerful and necessary call to action. The Freedom To Learn Coalition and all those who participated in the events made it clear that education, racial justice, and democratic principles are not negotiable. They are essential for a just and equitable society, and we must continue to fight for the freedom to learn.
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