Operation Understanding, DC Stops in Meridian

Students with Operation Understanding, traveled from DC across the country to ride the path of the freedom riders.

“Operation Understanding is a nonprofit based out of DC. With a mission to bring together blacks and Jews from the Washington, DC area to do interfaith work and fight to eradicate discrimination, racism and pretty much all forms of hate,” says student Eve Lustig.

The twenty-three students arrived in Meridian today, at the Carousel House, for a 17 day, 8 state journey, in honor of the civil rights movement.

“We started in DC and have been driving all through the south, stopping in different places, that have importance to the civil rights movement. And have been meeting with people.”

While in Meridian, they got to hear from civil rights attorney Bill Ready and civil rights activist Roscoe Jones.

“They are some of the still living foot soldiers and hero’s that we look up to and inspire to do the work that they do.”

She goes on to say that she learned a lot, from today’s guest speakers.

“I have learned that there is a split personality in Mississippi. Where there is this passion to fight this hate and this racism. But there is also still the presence of this history and a lively racism still going on. I think that speaks to a lot of places around the world and it’s important to understand the history, of where you are, but also figure out ways of where you can move forward.”