Guys, I wanted to share with you a site that provides information on Civl Rights Movement Veterans. It is located at:
http://www.crmvet.org/. The title of the site says the following:
Civil Rights Movement Veterans
"We who believe in freedom cannot rest," — Ella Baker
The reason I am bringing it up is because over the weekend, 7/29, my son hosted an event where Bernice Sims a "Civil Rights Movement Veteran" attended and spoke. To help recall who she is as it relates to the movement read the brief overview on Bernice Sims below:
I joined the youth branch of the NAACP in 1960 under the leadership of MS. Field Representative, Medgar Evers. I was in his home a few days before he was killed in his driveway. I was among the youth who were sent out to test the early stages of non-violence activism in Meridian, MS. Later, I joined CORE during the Ms Freedom Summer Project. I was recruited by Michael Schwerner and wife, Rita. In Meridian, MS. I worked in the CORE/COFO Office and Freedom School. I taught literacy,sewing, marched-in, sang-in, stood-in; registered voters to ascertain the MS. Freedom Ballots that were to be used at the 1964 Democratic Convention. I have worked as a teacher, social worker, public servant, artist and actress.
James Chaney was my next door neighbor and friend. All three left from our home before going to Philadelphia, MS. It has been a painful journey. In 1995, I finally put into writing my memoirs of those years in MS. Every time I go into a voting booth, I carry the memory of my three lost friends and veterans of the CRM."
The reason I am mentioning Bernice Sims is because she is a legend, her and many were willing and gave up their lives for the movement. She stated that she had seen Megar Evers a few days before he got killed and that James Chaney and the other two guys left her house an hour before they were missing because they were going to Philiadelphia, MS to investigate a burning church. Her brother also was suppose to had went, but didn't get a chance to. The three guys were participating in "Freedom Summer". Ms. Sims also stated that her mother's house was used as rest stop for the Freedom Fighters. When Ms. Sims spoke she stated that it hurts that many people have forgotten the Civil Rights Movement Veterans. The site list all of the current living survials of the movement.
One of the things that I hope that people would do is to take the time to go to the guest comment bulletin board located at:
http://www.crmvet.org/guestbk.htm and write their comments to them. You can also consider sending a personal email their names are listed on the website or send them a letter and say thank you. Just think the love they would feel if we took the time to do something like this. The living veterans deserve to be remembered. It is my hope that we take the time to remember our past in order to live our future.
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