On Friday, May 6, our Liberty Mutual Responsibility Project team attended the premiere of the PBS American Experience film “Freedom Riders” at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.
Sponsored by Liberty Mutual, Freedom Riders tells the powerful and inspirational story of the original freedom rides: In 1961, over 400 Civil Rights activists rode interstate buses together through the Deep South to protest Jim Crow laws. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1961 rides, PBS’ American Experience 2011 Student Freedom Ride features 40 current college students retracing the original route from Washington, DC to New Orleans, LA from May 6th to May 16th.
Friday’s screening was followed by a Q&A with the film’s director Stanley Nelson and A conversation with the original Freedom Riders.
Liberty Mutual supports the 2011 ride as a way to honor the important legacy of individuals that acted with integrity to do the right thing, no matter what the cost. The Responsibility Project is featuring 12 short films to supplement the documentary, and we’re also documenting the entire 2011 ride in a comprehensive photo journal done by renowned photographer Chris Churchill, updated daily for the duration of the event.
A sponsor of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Liberty Mutual also secured an exclusive sponsorship of her special Freedom Riders show on May 4th. As one of the final shows in her last season, it was an emotional one featuring 178 of the original Freedom Riders and five students participating in the 2011 re-creation ride. Additional online integration featured a Freedom Riders section on Oprah.com.
Visit Responsibilityproject.com this month to see the photo journal, 12 short films, an overview piece on the program and a selection of excerpts from five of the student’s submission essays.
Pictured above:
(left to right) Laurie Gillis (Management Supervisor, HHCC), Julie Reber (Senior Account director, PBS), Jim Dundford (PBS Series Manager, American Experience), Paul Alexander (Sr. Vice President, Liberty Mutual Communications), Danielle Criscuolo (Marketing Communications Specialist, Liberty Mutual), Mike Dyer (VP Media Design, HHCC)
