Newsroom

Civil rights activist Peggy Trotter Dammond Preacely will speak about The Hate U Give, a young adult novel by Angie Thomas, as well as her own experiences as an activist, Thursday, November 15, at 6 p.m., at Raritan Valley Community College. The event, which is free of charge and open to the public, will be held in the Nash Theatre at the College’s Branchburg campus.

The evening is part of RVCC’s One Book program, a community-wide initiative that presents a book worthy of close reading and engages RVCC students, faculty and staff, as well as members of the larger community. The Hate U Give depicts the story of an African-American teenager, Starr Carter, whose life is changed forever when she witnesses the fatal shooting of a childhood friend by a police officer. The novel also has been adapted into a feature film now playing in area theaters.

During the event, Preacely also will share her own experiences as a former Freedom Fighter and a working member of the historic Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Because of her grass roots activism for civil and voting rights, Preacely was jailed in Maryland and Georgia. She helped facilitate community empowerment and register black voters across the South in the 1950s and ʼ60s, many registering for the first time. She attended the August 1963 March on Washington where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his legendary “I Have a Dream” speech. Preacely’s activism also included working against de facto segregated schools in Boston and protesting the Vietnam War.

For additional information about the One Book event, contact Carina Gonzalez, RVCC Outreach Librarian, at carina.gonzalez@raritanval.edu.

Ranked by BestColleges.com, WalletHub.com, and Niche.com as the #1 community college in New Jersey, Raritan Valley Community College has been serving as an academic and cultural center for Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for 50 years. The College has been nationally recognized for its service to the community, environmental stewardship, and commitment to diversity. It is home to a Planetarium, Science Education Institute and 3M Observatory; a 1,000-seat Theatre offering professional performances for all ages; and an Honors College for high achieving students.

The College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training, small business assistance through the Small Business Development Center, professional development, and adult and youth personal enrichment courses. RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 23, 2018

Media contact: Donna Stolzer, 908-526-1200, ext. 8383

PR #50