Save The Date: Freedom Rider, Civil Rights Activist And Filmmaker To Communicate At Englert Theatre On September 22 In Metropolis Of Iowa Metropolis

August 20, 2021

In recognition of the 60th anniversary of the 1961 Freedom Rides, the Office of Equity and Human Rights has the pleasure to welcome Freedom Rider and civil rights activist Joan Trumpauer Mulholland and her son, filmmaker Loki Mulholland, 6 p.m.-8: 30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. September at the Englert Civic Theater, 221 E. Washington St., Iowa City. Seats will be limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This event will be broadcast live on Zoom. There are no costs for participation or participation.

The evening includes a screening of An Ordinary Hero: The True Story of Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, directed by Loki Mulholland. Afterwards, Abena Imhotep Sankofa from the Sankofa Literary Group of Des Moines will moderate a panel discussion with Joan and Loki. Through the Joan Trumpauer Mulholland Foundation, the two will answer questions about the film and their further work for civil rights and anti-racism. Established in 2014, the foundation began with the aim of preserving, sharing and carrying on Joan’s legacy. Her goal is to educate people about the civil rights movement and how it can make a difference in their community.

Winner of the 2015 National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Award, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland is a civil rights icon who participated in over 50 sit-in strikes and demonstrations at the age of 23. She was a Freedom Rider, a participant in the Jackson Woolworth Sit-in, March on Washington, Meredith March and Selma to Montgomery March. She was the first white student to enroll at Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi, and was the local secretary of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). She also became the first white member to be inducted into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the largest African-American Greek sorority. For her actions, she was cast out by her family, attacked, shot at, verbally abused, put on death row and hunted for execution by the clan. Her path has crossed with some of the biggest names in the civil rights movement: Martin Luther King, Medgar Evers, Fannie Lou Hamer, John Lewis, Diane Nash and Julian Bond. She has appeared in numerous books and documentaries and has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work in the civil rights movement.

Loki Mulholland is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, and activist. Loki’s Films About Race and Social Justice, an Emmy-winning producer who has won 40 Telly Awards, has won 14 awards for best documentary, including the National Black Film Festival for his film about institutional racism, “The Uncomfortable Truth”. His first book “She Stood For Freedom” was nominated for the Amelia Bloomer Award 2017.

Through the work of the Mulhollands, they found that the most effective way to change racist ideologies is to start with education. Racism is a learned behavior. Both adults and children can benefit from a change of perspective and an increased awareness of the past.

The Joan Trumpauer Mulholland Foundation takes a multifaceted approach to educating people about anti-racism. Using curricula, documentaries, podcasts, books, lectures, and school meetings, they delve into the different ways people can best understand.

To sign in

Details on receiving a free ticket for the personal event or viewing it via Zoom will be published at a later date.

If you require accessible accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Equity Director Stefanie Bowers at 319-356-5022 or [email protected]. Early inquiries are highly recommended so that you have ample time to attend to your access requirements.

This news release was produced by the City of Iowa City. The views expressed here are your own.