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Dozens in Knoxville commemorate The Eighth of August

For the fifth year in Knoxville, The Beck Cultural Exchange Center is hosting their annual Eighth of August Jubilee events, to educate, honor, and uplift communities

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Dozens of communities in Tennessee will commemorate The Eighth of August. 156 years ago today, Tennessee Military Governor Andrew Johnson freed his personal slaves in 1863. 

For the fifth year in Knoxville, The Beck Cultural Exchange Center is hosting their annual Eighth of August Jubilee events, to educate, honor, and uplift communities.

The annual Libation ceremony kicked off at Freedmen's Mission Historic Cemetery, near Knoxville College. Dozens of people gathered for a memorial tribute to the slaves buried in there. The ceremony was filled with historical narratives, music, and dance.

“We are paying homage to those who came before us,” said Felecia Outsey. “We have an awesome tradition and great history here.”

On Thursday evening, a special documentary that highlights the life of Civil Rights Activist Medgar Evers will premiere at 6:30 p.m. The documentary entitled 'The Evers' will premiere at the Tennessee Theatre.

Each ticket holder receives a copy of "The Heat of a Red Summer" by Robert J. Booker.

Credit: Smithsonian Institution
Medgar Evers

“This film is ultimately about the sacrifice that this family made for our country,” said the film’s producer Loki Mullholland. “This project to me was a labor of love.”

A VIP gathering at 4 p.m. features special guest Reena Evers. She is the daughter of civil rights activist Medgar Evers. He was assassinated in Mississippi when Reena was 8 years old.

The civil rights icon led voter registration drives, organized boycotts, and set up new chapters of the NAACP. He pushed to integrate the University of Mississippi. 

Reena Evers founded the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute in 1998 to achieve and secure economic, social, and political justice for people worldwide.

She served as the logistics coordinator and speaker of a project known as Sojourn to the Past. It sends thousands of high school students across the country to visit the South to learn about the Civil Rights Movement.

The documentary’s Emmy-award-winning producer, Loki Mullholland will also attend.

Tickets for the premiere are still on sale and available at the Tennessee Theatre. General admission tickets are $15 dollars. VIP prices per ticket are $60 dollars.

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