Please join us in conversation and reflection of Martin Luther King, Jr. on the 50th Anniversary of his death. We have the honor in welcoming the distinguished civil rights activist, Charles Person, joining us from Atlanta on this special day.

Charles Person was one of the 13 original Freedom Riders.

Charles A. Person was born September 27, 1942 and educated in the Atlanta Public Schools where he graduated in 1960 from David T. Howard High School as Class Salutatorian. He is a veteran of the Vietnam War and also of the Civil Rights Movement. He saw action in Da Nang; Chu Lai, Okinawa; Washington DC; Charlotte, North Carolina; New Orleans, Louisiana and Atlanta, Georgia. During his days in the Civil Rights Movement, the Klu Klux Klan savagely beat him in Anniston, Alabama and, again, in Birmingham, Alabama. Numerous medals and ribbons have been awarded to Person for his hard work and dedication. He retired from the United States Marine Corps in 1981 on the island of Cuba. He remained at Guantanamo Bay Navy Base where he managed an electronic maintenance company for three years.

After his retirement from the Marine Corps, he continued his career with the Atlanta Public School System as an Electronic Technician.

Today, Person and his wife resides in his hometown Atlanta and are the parent of five children. He is an activist within the community and the NAACP.

Please join us at 5:30PM at our S.B. Headquarters for a conversation with Mr. Person. After Mr. Person tells us his reflections on the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King, Jr., and where he sees our country today, we will have select questions from the audience. The portion of events will end at 7:00PM. Suggested Donation, $10.

At 7:30PM, we will hold a candlelight vigil at the Martin Luther King, Jr. statue in downtown South Bend at Leighton Plaza.

Proceeding the candlelight vigil, we invite attendees to join us at the Linden Grill for an (21+) social with musical guests and cash bar. The venue is open to the public.