Tonight you can see Freedom Riders, a film about the courageous band of civil rights activists who, in 1961, challenged segregation in the American South.
From award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson, it features testimony from a fascinating cast of central characters: the riders themselves, state and federal government officials, and journalists who witnessed the rides firsthand.
The two-hour documentary is based on Raymond Arsenault’s book Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice. Reservations are required to attend the VIP Reception at 6 p.m. and meet Dr. Arsenault and members of the real-life Freedom Riders in attendance.
There will be a film introduction by Dr. Ray Arsenault and the movie screens at 7:30 p.m. Question-and-answer session with Dr. Arsenault and Freedom Riders follow film at 9:35 p.m.
Tampa Theatre, 711 Franklin St., Tampa. 813-274-8981. wedu.org, tampatheatre.org.
This article appears in Apr 7-13, 2011.