WFS Faculty and Staff Visit Bryan Stevenson's Equal Justice Initiative

During their stay in Montgomery, the group also visited The Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. Founded by Bryan Stevenson and the Equal Justice Initiative, The Legacy Museum tells the story of slavery and violence in the United States; the museum details the transatlantic slave trade, the era of Jim Crow and racial terror lynchings, and our current mass incarceration crisis through interactive media, first-person narratives, and world-class art.

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice is the first memorial dedicated to the legacy of Black Americans were who enslaved and terrorized by lynching. The memorial honors more than 4,400 black people who were killed in racial terror lynching between 1877 and 1950; their names are engraved on more than 800 steel monuments, representing each county where a racial terror lynching occurred.

Reflecting on their trip, WFS Director of Equity, Justice, Community, and Engagement Erica Childs stated, “Experiencing the unveiling of the Freedom Memorial Sculpture Park on Juneteenth with Bryan Stevenson and upwards of 1,000 people was probably the most impactful moment for all of us. However the combination of all of the legacy sites, panels, film screenings, and the concert finale were transformative experiences for all of us that sparked deep emotions and a renewed commitment to action. Over the summer and into the school year, we will continue to explore ways to share this experience with our colleagues and to incorporate what we've learned in our classrooms.”

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