Plans for the weekend?

Have you made plans for the holiday weekend yet? Spend it with us at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site as we explore the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and how he — and other civil rights leaders — used the written and spoken word to inspire action and challenge oppression.

This program explores the profound impact of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s writing and speaking, especially his transformative “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” and highlights the enduring power of communication as a tool for resistance and change, even under the most restrictive conditions.

Learn more about some of the civil rights leaders that will be featured in this weekend's discussions from Eastern State's LEAD Fellows.

Saturday, January 18

11:00 AM: Public Tour with Artist Talk (ASL Interpreted) featuring Mark Loughney, artist of Pyrrhic Defeat. This program includes both voice and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation in partnership with Hands UP Productions. Purchase tickets online in advance to secure your spot. Use code HANDSUP for $17 special event admission.

12:00 PM: Shawn Mooring leads a discussion on Ida B. Wells-Barnett and the role of investigative journalism to bring about change.

12:00 – 4:00 PM: Visitors have the opportunity to have their portrait drawn by Mark Loughney, artist of Pyrrhic Defeat.

Sunday, January 19

12:00 PM: Ismael Jimenez leads a discussion on Malcolm X and the autobiography he penned during his incarceration.

Monday, January 20

11:00 AM: Welcome by Kerry Sautner, President and CEO 

11:10 AM: Musical performance by the Black Breath Collective.

11:30 AM: Lewis Webb discusses Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s ongoing legacy of healing justice.

11:45 AM: Reading by students from The Bridge Way School.

12:05 PM: Musical performance by the Black Breath Collective.

12:25 PM: Robert Saleem Holbrook discusses the impact of incarceration on activists George Jackson and Assata Shakur.

12:45 PM: Reading by students from The Bridge Way School.

12:55 PM: Closing musical performance by the Black Breath Collective.

All Weekend Long

Making Headlines: The Power of Prison Journalism: This new exhibit explores the role and impact of journalism at Eastern State Penitentiary and in prisons today.

Pop-Up Museum: The Power of Words: View a selection of letters from Eastern State's archives that demonstrate the power of words as a tool for connection beyond prison walls.

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site | Philadelphia, PA

(215) 236-3300 | EasternState.org

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