by John Reid

Those are the words of civil rights activist Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, whose Freedom Rider mugshot is one of the most iconic in American history. Today, she and her son Loki, an award-winning documentarian and author, visited Manassas Museum for their Juneteenth celebration. Featured in several books and documentaries, including “Eyes on the Prize,” PBS’s “Freedom Riders,” and “An Ordinary Hero,” the Freedom Rider and member of SNCC [Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee] shared her stories of how she lent her voice and activism for the cause of freedom. Filled by ages young and old, Black and white, the room hung on her every word of a life dedicated to justice.

Born in Washington, DC, yet raised in Arlington, Virginia, she talked about how she began her activism when, at 10 years old, she visited the “colored” section of Oconee, Georgia, right outside of Milledgeville. She recalled the reaction of the Black girls who saw her arrive.

“Two girls saw us,” she said, “and they disappeared almost immediately without speaking. It was then when I realized just how bad things were.”

Based on that moment and her teachings in a Presbyterian Sunday school about treating others fairly, it became a springboard for her to get involved. During her time at Duke University in Durham, instead of pledging for sororities, she began participating at the sit-ins. When she was arrested, she was branded for mental illness, as it was very uncommon for a white girl to be a part of the protests. So, how was she able to handle being there in the midst of the sit-ins?

“We were just praying and ready for anything,” she told the audience in attendance.

She talked about how she left Duke and enrolled in Tougaloo College, a Black university in Jackson, Mississippi. There, she escorted Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for a speech, met civil rights leader Medgar Evers, and was accepted into Delta Sigma Theta. She also worked at SNCC, and even worked to integrate Glen Echo Amusement Park in Richmond.

Among the stories she shared was the difficult travels they had as Freedom Riders, with activists like the late Representative John Lewis, to being in overcrowded prisons on death row. One lesson she shared with the audience was the importance of getting equity for everyone.

“If integration is real,” she said, “it has to be a two-way street.”

Candidate for Manassas City Council Ashley Hutson, who was in attendance, sent a statement to the PW Perspective about the experience.

“Joan brought a strong presence to the room. She and her son Loki kept the conversation light-hearted while discussing some seriously impactful, and even dangerous, events that Joan participated in. I’ve studied quite a bit about the Civil Rights Movement in school, but to hear from a Freedom Rider first-hand was very special.”

Sharing those sentiments was Jennifer Roberts, an activist and founder of Conversations In the Community.

“It is a wonderful experience to study history; it is a life-changing experience to come face to face with history. Listening to Mrs. Mulholland’s lived experience as an activist and getting to meet her was inspiring and motivating. Her selfless pursuit of liberty and justice for all reminds me to keep advocating for equity and justice in my community.”

To find out more about the Joan Trumapuer Mulholland Foundation, please visit their website.