OLLI at UConn Waterbury Juneteenth Celebration
According to author Elaine Weiss, Jim Crow 2.0 is alive and well. The U.S. Supreme Court, she points out, has just gutted the Voting Rights Act, striking down the last remaining provisions of the 1965 civil rights law that prevents racial discrimination in voting and helped ensure that minority voters were treated fairly in redistricting. But that’s only one attack that is turning back the clock to another ugly time in American history.
Weiss’s newest book, "Spell Freedom: The Underground Schools That Built the Civil Rights Movement", is a powerful and deeply relevant exploration of how education has shaped the fight for freedom. Weiss sees many alarming parallels between historical suppression tactics and current political efforts. This, she says, includes book bans, funding cutbacks for museums and libraries, DEI-related government overreach, and the rewriting of historical textbooks and classroom curricula regarding civil rights and slavery. These activities, she declares, are tantamount to racially motivated voter-suppression activities in the 1950s and 1960s.
Weiss is the guest presenter on June 12th at 6:00 PM, at a Juneteenth commemoration hosted by OLLI at UConn Waterbury. She will talk about the direct parallel between voter suppression in the ‘50s and ‘60s and current events, such as the Trump administration's actions against legal firms, investigations and indictments of civil society organizations, and attacks on immigrants.
This event will be held at UConn Waterbury, 99 East Main Street. Free parking also is available in the UConn attached garage, 55 North Elm Street. The event is free, but registration is required. To register for the free Juneteenth event, go to https://olli.uconn.edu, click "Take a Class" then "Special Events", or email [email protected]. or call 203-236-9924 and give your name, phone number, and email.
OLLI at UConn is a nationally recognized lifelong learning program for adults aged 50 and over, offering courses, lectures, and special events that foster intellectual curiosity, social connection, and civic engagement. Located at the University of Connecticut’s Waterbury campus and offering in-person and online courses and events, the OLLI program is open to all 50-and-over adult learners regardless of previous educational experience or background.
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3658512-0
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3658512-2
