Press Release: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE and the Newseum will host a special screening of Stanley Nelson’s critically acclaimed film Freedom Riders at the Newseum on Friday, May 6, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. Hosted by PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger and AMERICAN EXPERIENCE Executive Producer Mark Samels, the screening will be preceded by a reception at 6:30 p.m. Several original Freedom Riders will be present, representing the more than 400 men and women who, in 1961, used public transportation as a means of challenging segregation in the South. The original two Freedom Ride buses departed from Washington, D.C. Also present will be 40 college students selected through a national competition to participate in the 2011 Student Freedom Ride.
The original Freedom Riders and Student Freedom Riders will be arriving in a specially designed Freedom Riders bus that will take them on their ten-day journey from Washington, D.C. to New Orleans from May 8 – 16. Freedom Riders will premiere on AMERICAN EXPERIENCE on PBS on Monday, May 16 at 9:00 p.m. ET.
WHAT: Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Freedom Rides with Special Screening of Stanley Nelson’s Freedom Riders. WHO: Original Freedom Riders including Congressman John Lewis, Diane Nash, Joan Mulholland, Charles Person, Ernest “Rip” Patton, Rev. James Lawson, Helen and Robert Singleton, Reginald Green, Dionne Diamond and others
PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger, filmmaker Stanley Nelson, author Ray Arsenault (Freedom Riders), AMERICAN EXPERIENCE Executive Producer Mark Samels
And introducing the forty 2011 Student Freedom Riders, college students from across the US, selected from over 1000 applicants to retrace the original rides and explore the state of civil engagement today. WHERE: THE NEWSEUM — 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC. WHEN: Friday, May 6, 2011 – Arrivals 6:30PM
In calling the Newseum’s Conference staff to see if a Newseum ticket is required for attending the Freedom Riders event this Friday, the staffer said that no Newseum ticked is required, but that the event is an invitation-only one. I am asking you about what is required to obtain an invitation, because I am interested in attending.
Thank you,
Warren Friedman, PhD, CIH
644 D Street NE
Washington, DC 20002-5814
202-423-3730 (cell)