[Pictured: Tylertown, MS, 1965. An elderly gentleman registering to vote for the first time in his long life.]

In 1965, the Voting Rights Act was enacted marking the beginning of the end of voter suppression and disenfranchisement of blacks and people of color in the U.S.

Soon afterwards a call was issued to students to come to Mississippi to help register black voters during the 1965 Christmas vacation. It was called Mississippi Freedom Christmas.

Jim Lemkin, who was one of those students, will share his story and his photos.

We will also explore the consequences of the repeal of a key provision of the Voting Rights Act in 2013 that opened the doors to voter suppression once again.

College of Marin Professors Walter Turner, History and Ethnic Studies Departments and Yolanda Bellisimo, Political Science and History Departments, will provide historical and political context.

We'll discuss ways to resist! This event is sponsored by the Umoja Community of College of Marin.

Join us! The event is held in Fusselman Hall, Room 120, just a two minute walk from the library.