The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) will kick off its summer series of programs with

“A Night with Freedom Rider Hank Thomas” on Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 6 pm in the Woods Community Meeting Room.  The free program is the first in a series of programs about “Access and Activism: Community Involvement After the Founding of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights (ACMHR).”  The session open to the public and registration is available at www.bcri.org.

The May 19th program will feature a presentation by Hank Thomas, one of the original Freedom Riders, who traveled on Greyhound and Trailways buses through the south in 1961 to protest racial segregation, as well as demonstrate at the bus stops along the way.  Thomas will speak about his experiences as a Freedom Rider and Vietnam soldier.   A question and answer session will follow his presentation.

The summer series will continue with: “Access & Activism: Youth of Today Inspired by Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights June 16 and “Access & Activism: A Continued Conversation on Public Transportation in Birmingham on July 21:  Both programs start at 6:00 pm in BCRI’s Community Meeting Room.  The events are free, but registration will be required.