Courageous Free Thinkers Events Highlight Youth Voices During Selma’s 61st Bridge Crossing Jubilee
The 61st annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee will begin Thursday in Selma, commemorating the legacy of the Voting Rights Movement with several days of events through Sunday.
Among the featured events is the 12th annual Courageous Free Thinkers Celebration, led by former Selma Mayor the Rev. James Perkins Jr., chairman of the Courageous Free Thinkers Committee. Perkins spoke with Action 8 anchor Estee Morrison about the series, which is part of the jubilee festivities.
The celebration includes three events: the Free Thinkers Reception, the Courageous Free Thinkers Forum and the Free Thinkers Church Service. All events will take place at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, located at 1548 F.D. Reese St.
The reception begins at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 7, followed by a 6 p.m. youth forum titled “The Voice of Children and The Future of America.” High school seniors from Detroit, Huntsville and Alabama’s Black Belt region will respond to the question, “How do you feel about America right now?” Students also will share their expectations for the country’s future.
Perkins said the forum provides an opportunity to listen to young people and understand their perspectives.
The celebration will conclude Sunday, March 8, with a 9 a.m. church service and awards program. The keynote speaker will be Rep. Anthony Daniels, minority leader of the Alabama House of Representatives.
Organizers say the Courageous Free Thinkers Celebration honors the legacy of the Voting Rights Movement while encouraging continued dialogue about human rights and civic engagement.
For more information, call (334) 412-6990 or (334) 875-1382, or email crobinson@yahoo.com.
The Bridge Crossing Jubilee runs March 5–8 and commemorates the historic 1965 voting rights marches in Selma.
