News 12 Staff

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Jun 6, 2023, 7:03 AM

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Updated

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A lesson in history is being shared in the Hudson Valley.

Civil rights activist Joanne Bland made two stops in Westchester County to share her story - the First United Methodist Church in Mount Vernon and the Ossining Public Library.

Bland hopes that by sharing her journey, which includes her early years living in Jim Crow South and being arrested at least 13 times by age 11, she can inspire future generations.

“They have the power to make change in their communities. What happened in Selma didn't only benefit Selma, it benefited Mount Vernon and everywhere else in New York, and all over this country,” says Bland.

Bland is also the founder of the Foot Soldiers Park, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving civil rights history and revitalizing the community.