Jackson Free Press

In anticipation of Mississippi Freedom Summer's 50th anniversary, several civil-rights groups met with the Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau and the City of Jackson at a news conference this morning in order to announce several events taking place in the 50 days leading up to the Mississippi Freedom Conference in June, which includes the creation of Jackson's new LeFleur Museum District.

Mayor Tony Yarber attended the news conference, held at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, to pledge his support for LeFleur and the Freedom 50 Conference.

"I think that if we move to make Jackson a true 'destination city,' that we have to ensure that we are putting our institutions in a position where they can be most effective and can have what I like to call collective impact," Yarber said.

"That happens through collaboration. ... I know we are working towards that goal so that we can ensure that the history, the richness of our city and state is being displayed every time someone comes into the city of Jackson."

Freedom 50 will celebrate the anniversary of Freedom Summer by recognizing those who combated segregation in 1964 as well as developing strategies to continually improve the lives of Mississippians and the rest of the country. The conference will host several exhibits, a film festival. and a Legacy and Recognition banquet, plus a variety of workshops on the issues of education, voting rights, workers' rights, and health care.

"Freedom Summer was a significant event in the history of not only Mississippi, but in America," said Derrick Johnson, Freedom Summer national co-chair. "It opened up an alliance in ways in which all Americans can fully participate. ... We want to honor that movement by asking people to come back and celebrate not only the successes of Freedom Summer, but also begin a new discussion on how to secure democracy for all citizens of this country."

The Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement, Mississippi State Conference NAACP, One Voice and Tougaloo College will convene the conference June 25-29.

As a part of National Tourism Week, May 3-11, the LeFleur Museum District will be a collaborative venture between the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum, the Mississippi Children's Museum, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. As a part of this collaboration, the district will host a variety of special joint events and activities.

During the week, LeFleur will offer a Full District Pass, a joint ticket available online that will allow visitors to tour all of the museums at a 25 percent discount off regular admission.

The Lefleur Museum District will host its first joint event, "Summertime, Wonder Time," Saturday, July 5, to celebrate Independence Day .

The news conference also announced this year's headliners for the Jackson Rhythm and Blues Festival, which will include Ziggy Marley, the Jamaican musician and son of the legendary Bob Marley, and Fantasia, the third-season American Idol winner. Leading up to the festival, Jackson will host a Rhythm and Blues Idol Contest. The winner of the finals will have the opportunity to perform at the festival and meet Fantasia.

For more information about Freedom Summer, visit http://www.freedom50.org. For information about Jackson's new LeFleur Museum District visit http://www.lefleurmuseumdistrict.com.