A CIVIL rights veteran will give a talk on his experiences at Shire Hall in Dorchester on Tuesday (25) at 7pm.

Mark Levy will speak to both GCSE and A level students at the event and students and members of the public alike are invited to come along and hear the discussion.

Mark worked with the Freedom Schools movement in America during the 1960s. The initiative sought to train and motivate individuals to be active in the Civil Rights Movement. The schools were temporary and free and wanted to bring about greater economic, political and social equality for African Americans.

He will providing an insight to the civil rights movement, which will be a unique and fascinating opportunity for students to build on their understanding of this momentous part of American history.

The evening will give the opportunity to discuss such questions as: What did the civil rights’ movement achieve in light of more recent events in America? What makes a successful campaign today? What can we learn from history?

Mark will be joined on the panel by local poet and researcher Louisa Adjoa Parker, who has published work and spoken on black history in Dorset and a member of Dorset Racial Equality Council.

Thomas Hardye School’s history department is chairing the discussion.

*Educating the Civil Rights Movement with Mark Levy, Shire Hall Dorchester, Tuesday, September 25, 7pm. Doors open at 6.30pm. Tickets for the panel are £5, available from the Shire Hall front desk, on 01305 261849 or on the door.