VANCOUVER, Wash. – Learn about the history of voting rights and immigration at Washington State University Vancouver’s Marquee Diversity events. “Race, Immigration and Citizenship” will mark the 50th anniversaries of the 1965 Voting Rights and Immigration Acts. Two nationally recognized speakers will talk about the legacy of discrimination and its continuing impact on basic rights. Both presentations are free and open to the public.
Joanne Bland: “Selma’s Bloody Sunday, the Voting Rights Movement and the Ongoing Struggle for Civil Rights”
Noon – 1:15 p.m. Nov. 3
Dengerink Administration Building, Room 110
Bland, who as a child was witness to and participant in Bloody Sunday and subsequent demonstrations, will talk about the historical events she witnessed and her lifelong civil and human rights work. A much sought-after speaker with a compelling personal story of civil rights activism, Bland is the owner and operator of Journeys for the Soul, a touring agency that specializes in education of the Civil Rights movement with a major focus on Selma, Ala. Learn more about Bland at .
Ariel Luckey: “Amnesia: Immigration, Assimilation and White Privilege”
7 p.m. Nov. 10
Dengerink Administration Building, Room 110
How can a “country of immigrants” become anti-immigration? How do assimilation, racism and white privilege affect the national immigration debate? Luckey, a nationally acclaimed poet, actor and playwright, will explore the immigration crisis in the United States through infographics, videos, maps and live performance. Luckey’s performance encourages guests to reflect on their own families’ migration stories and the complexities of national immigration policy and enforcement. Learn more about him at .
91ԹϺ’s Marquee Diversity events feature nationally recognized speakers and performers who bring issues of diversity, social justice and multiculturalism to the community.
91ԹϺ is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave. in Vancouver, east of the 134th Street exit from either I-5 or I-205, or via C-Tran bus service. Free parking is available for these events. Contact Amanda Shannahan at amanda.shannahan@wsu.edu or 360-546-9182 for details.
About 91ԹϺ
As an urban campus of the Washington State University system, 91ԹϺ offers big-school resources in a small-school environment. The university offers affordable baccalaureate- and graduate-level education to benefit the people and communities of Southwest Washington. As the only four-year research university in this corner of the state, 91ԹϺ helps drive economic growth in Southwest Washington through relationships with local businesses and industries, schools and nonprofit organizations.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Brenda Alling, Office of Marketing and Communications, 360-546-9601, brenda_alling@wsu.edu