“How to Sue the Klan” movie poster
By Kersten Marchese
February is Black History Month, a time to recognize the struggles of Black Americans and honor their resilience in the face of bigotry, hatred, and violence.
The Social and Economic Justice Institute of Cape Cod and the Islands will host a special event on Thursday, Feb. 20 at Cape Cod Community College, celebrating five courageous women who stood against racial injustice. The event includes a screening of “How to Sue the Klan,” a documentary about five black women who survived a Ku Klux Klan attack and took legal action against a jury that failed to protect them. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with the film’s director, John Beder.
Professor James Love, a sociologist and active member of The Social and Economic Justice Institute of Cape Cod and the Islands, will also speak at the event. “One of the most powerful aspects of this documentary is the resilience and courage of the five black women who, despite experiencing racial terror and facing systemic barriers to justice, chose to fight back through the legal system,” Love said. He also added he hopes attendees leave feeling empowered.
Love and Beder will be joined on the panel by Senior Attorney Mirian Albert and activist Tara Vargas Wallace. The event will take place in the lecture hall of the Frank and Maureen Wilkens Building on campus. The screening begins at 3:30 p.m. Those unable to attend in person can join via Zoom.
