by MV Freedom School

The Mohawk Valley Freedom School will have three classes on the Black Freedom (Civil Rights) Movement during the month of March. Local activist and Freedom School educator Alicia McWilliams will be teaching the classes.

The dates and subject matter are as follows:

March 11th  – An introduction to the Black Freedom Movement will be given. Class will start with a screening of part of the powerful documentary on the subject, Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years, 1954-1965.  This will lead into a discussion that compares the Civil Rights Movement with various social movements today.

March 18th –  Discussion of the previous class will continue. Students will be encouraged to do their own research before coming to class and present their findings on the Black Freedom struggle to the class at large.

March 25th – We will go over the history of the FBI’s counter-intelligence program (COINTELPRO) which was created to destroy the Black Freedom, Black Power and New Left movements of the 1950s-1970s. As always, this history and these movements will be brought to the present as we ask the questions: How is this relevant to us today? How can we learn from this? How do we move forward?

Alicia McWilliams is a dedicated activist and organizer who has been active in New York City, Utica and across the state and country. She has been very active in fighting for civil liberties, defending the Newburgh 4 and others unjustly targeted by the War on Terror, ending mass incarceration and the New Jim Crow, and with the Mohawk Valley Freedom School.

The Mohawk Valley Freedom School is a school dedicated to social justice and social change. It is run by and for the community and is rooted in popular education.

The Mohawk Valley Freedom School is held every Wednesday at the Cornerstone Community Church at 500 Plant Street in Utica. Classes are from 7:00-8:30pm with a free dinner at 6:30pm. Please contact 732-2382 or mvfreedomschool@gmail.com.

This class is free and open to the public and to people of all ages and backgrounds.