Honoring Champions
of Free Expression

FEA-Logo-OC

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.

Related Content

people protesting

The Power of Assembly: Know Your Rights

A First Amendment-friendly toolkit for when you protest.
Read More
Voter Registration Day

You Have a Right to Speak, Assemble, Petition — So Now, Register to Vote

What good are our rights to freely seek change from government if we can’t choose…
Read More
March for Our Lives, March 24, 2018

Freedom of Association: The Lesser-Known First Amendment Right

Movements get protection behind the scenes of their marches, too.
Read More

We’ve gathered the results on where America stands on freedom of assembly.