2025 Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference

All-Expenses-Paid Trip To Washington, D.C.

June 22-27, 2025

Skill-Building
Network Growing
Head Start On Your Future

High School Juniors

Freedom Rider Rip Patton and Freedom Fighters DC’s Philomena Wankenge

Former Freedom Rider Ernest "Rip" Patton and Philomena Wankenge, a Black Lives Matter activist and founder of Freedom Fighters DC, discuss the evolution of civil rights activism and their roles in the movement. USA TODAY Washington correspondent Deborah Barfield Berry moderates the conversation. Read more about the movement.

Recorded August 27, 2020.

First Five Live is a Freedom Forum conversation series featuring activists and influencers sharing stories about how they have exercised the five freedoms of the First Amendment — religion, speech, press, assembly and petition — to ignite change.

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The more you know,
the freer you are.

Learn about the First Amendment.