University of Mississippi to Host Voting Summit Commemorating 60th Anniversary of Freedom Summer Project

Oxford, Mississippi Hosts Summit Focused on Voter Registration

The University of Mississippi is set to mark the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Summer Project by hosting the annual Voting Summit. Scheduled for March 19-23, 2024, the focus of the weeklong event is promoting voter registration and engaging in examinations of historical voter rights movements.

Voting Summit: A Closer Look

With a diverse range of events planned from panel talks to film screenings, the summit is poised to offer a unique view into the history and importance of voter registration. There will also be opportunities for students, staff, faculty, and community members to register as voters at the event.

“Our team has been tireless in organizing this year’s voting summit, which is tied thematically to the 60th anniversary of Mississippi Freedom Summer,” said assistant director of student leadership programs, William Teer.

The Freedom Summer, dedicated to increasing voter registration and awareness in the African American community, saw a congregation of volunteers, mainly college students, in Mississippi during the summer of 1964. This year’s summit seeks to commemorate this significant event and draw lessons from it.

Key Summit Events

Among the events planned for the summit are a screening and discussion of the film “Neshoba: The Price of Freedom” on March 19, a trivia night focused on voting rights on March 22, and a leadership luncheon titled “Are You Ready to Vote?” on March 21. Also included is a March 23 day trip to Philadelphia, a significant location tied to the Freedom Summer events.

Remembering Mississippi Freedom Summer

Speaking about the event’s focus, Teer emphasized: “In the face of violence, even death, these young people fought for greater access to the ballot for all Americans. Now, 60 years later, we look to the past to better understand our present and how we can all learn from the important legacy of Freedom Summer.”

A Tradition of Civic Engagement

The Voting Summit follows in the footsteps of the inaugural event in 2022 which was conceived by students Katelyn Winstead and Caroline Leonard, who had been named campus ambassadors for the national Andrew Goodman Foundation. The foundation focuses on promoting voter education and developing youth leadership.

Spotlight on Voter Education

Haley Lutz, the graduate assistant for student leadership programs, further underscored the importance of voter education by noting “This year’s voting summit seeks to educate, inspire and inform the community on the 60th anniversary of Mississippi Freedom Summer and lessons learned today.”

Aligning with this vision, the weeklong event is set to captivate, inform and stir individuals to reflect on the criticality of participation in the democratic process through voting. It thereby acts as a platform to champion voter registration and its pivotal role in shaping democratic societies.