Medgar Evers College of The City University of New York Celebrates Medgar Wiley Evers Remembrance Week, June 10th through June 15, 2005

Medgar Evers College has scheduled a week of events and forums beginning Friday, June 10th and ending Wednesday, June 15, 2005 in commemoration of the forty-second anniversary of the assassination of civil rights activist Medgar Wiley Evers.

(PRWEB) June 11, 2005 -- Medgar Evers College has scheduled a week of events and forums beginning Friday, June 10th and ending Wednesday, June 15, 2005 in commemoration of the forty-second anniversary of the assassination of civil rights activist Medgar Wiley Evers. Myrlie Evers-Williams, widow of Medgar Evers, will initiate Remembrance Week with an opening address on Friday, June 10th at 6:00 pm at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, New York. This event is co-sponsored by Medgar Evers College, The Brooklyn Womens Network, and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz.

On Sunday, June 12th at 4:00 pm, Medgar Evers College, in collaboration with the Celebrate Africa Foundation, presents a free screening of the award-winning film Hotel Rwanda to be followed by a discussion entitled Civil Rights: A Universal Experience...Africa, the Caribbean, and the U.S." which will take place in the Founders Auditorium, Medgar Evers College, 1650 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225. Confirmed participants include Medgar Evers College President Edison O. Jackson, and H.E. Ambassador Stanislas Kamanzi, Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations. Ambassador Kamanzi and President Jackson, and other invited guests will speak on the universal experience of the struggle for human rights. The discussion will be followed by a candlelight remembrance ceremony.

Other highlights of Remembrance Week include a series of forums addressing issues that impact on African-Americans. The Womens Center of Medgar Evers College is hosting Women Raising Sons," scheduled for Saturday, June 11th from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon and The Male Development and Empowerment Center will present The State of the Black Male" to take place on Monday June 13th, from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. The Department of Public Administration will host State of Black Politics and the Media" on Tuesday June 14th from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. On Wednesday, June 15th, from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon, the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies will host State of Black Spirituality" All forums will take place in Founders Auditorium, Medgar Evers College. Barnes and Noble is the presenting sponsor for the entire week of events.

A Listing of the Weeks Events follows. Unless otherwise noted, all events take place in Founders Auditorium, Bedford Building, Medgar Evers College, 1650 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225

Friday, June 10, 2005, 6:00 PM

Myrlie Evers-Williams Addresses Brooklyn"

Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, NY

Saturday, June 11, 2005, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Women Raising Black Boys Symposium

Sunday, June 12, 2005; 4:00 PM to Dusk

Screening of the Film Hotel Rwanda and Civil Rights Discussion and Candlelight Remembrance Ceremony

Monday, June 13, 2005, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

State of the Black Male: A Solutions Forum

Tuesday, June 14, 2005, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

State of Black Politics and Media: A Solutions Forum

Wednesday, June 15, 2005; 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

State of Black Spirituality: A Solutions Forum

Background

On June 12, 2003 the 40th anniversary of Medgar Evers assassination, Representative Bennie G. Thompson introduced H. Con. Res. 220, a bill commending Medgar Wiley Evers and his widow, Myrlie Evers-Williams on their lives and accomplishments. Representative Charles Chip" Pickering, who represents Evers hometown of Newton, signed on as an original co-sponsor on June 12, 2003. The bill was debated by the full House on Monday, June 16, 2003 and later agreed to by a vote of 376-0. On June 11, 2003, Sen. Thad Cochran introduced, and the Senate passed S. Con. Res. 54 - commending Medgar Wiley Evers and his widow, Myrlie Evers-Williams for their lives and accomplishments and designating a Medgar Evers National Week of Remembrance.

Medgar Wiley Evers: Medgar Evers, elected first Field Secretary of the NAACP, created new strategies to enfranchise and empower African-Americans. Evers work was instrumental to many political and social victories for African-Americans in Mississippi, most notably the admission of James Meredith to the previously white-only University of Mississippi. June 12th will mark the 42nd year since Evers was assassinated outside his home in Mississippi.

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