Tour of Civil Rights Sites Highlights Riverside’s Proud Civil Rights Histories
Published: 3/7/2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Mar. 7, 2025
Contact:
Robyn G. Peterson
Museum Director
(951) 826-5792
Tour of Civil Rights Sites Highlights Riverside’s Proud Civil Rights Histories
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Several Riverside-based cultural organizations are partnering for a third time to offer a self-guided auto tour of key civil rights sites on Saturday, April 5. The three stops included in “In/VISIBLE, Un/HEARD: Riverside’s Civil Rights Stories” will highlight places of memory and sites where local history changed.
Participating organizations include Empower You Edutainment, the Evergreen Memorial Historic Cemetery, and the Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California. These three sites’ programs are supported by the Museum of Riverside, Inlandia Institute, and the Center for Social Justice & Civil Liberties. The program began in 2022 to highlight authentic places where incidents occurred that define in part Riverside’s civil rights history.
The 2025 self-guided auto tour will begin at 10 a.m. April 5 at the site where Lowell School once stood. Through song, dance, storytelling, and historical reflections, the audience will witness the events surrounding the burning of Lowell Elementary School on September 7, 1965, a pivotal moment in Riverside’s civil rights struggle. This powerful presentation honors the resilience and determination of the Eastside community, who, despite adversity, ignited a movement to desegregate Riverside’s schools.
The second stop on the tour will be the Evergreen Memorial Historic Cemetery where dramatizations will highlight notable historic figures buried here who played roles in shaping the civil rights history of Riverside.
The tour will conclude at the Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California where a panel discussion will take place. Important books that center on civil rights and the region’s diverse population will be free on a first-come, first-served basis.
The In/VISIBLE, UnHEARD theme is predicated on the truth that the aggressions, both macro and micro, of racism and discrimination erect barriers to fulfillment of potential for many people. The impact of those aggressions frequently manifests as an overwhelming sense of invisibility for those who targeted. The project focuses on the journey from invisibility to visibility for those who have suffered racism and other forms of discrimination. Along this journey, Riverside has had several milestones in its history.
The auto tour is free. Make a reservation on Eventbrite.com to download more information. https://tinyurl.com/inVISIBLE-unHEARD.
This project is supported by California Humanities, a nonprofit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Follow Empower You Edutainment, the Evergreen Memorial Historic Cemetery, the Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California, the Museum of Riverside, Inlandia Institute, and the Center for Social Justice and Civil Liberties on Facebook and Instagram for more information.
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About Empower You Edutainment: Empower You Edutainment is a nonprofit organization consisting of educators who used their performing arts background to provide education through theatre, storytelling, spoken word, creative writing, art, dance, and music to increase resilience, empowerment, and wellness for youth and adults. To learn more about Empower You Edutainment, visit our website at https://empoweryouedutainment.org/ |
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About the Evergreen Memorial Historic Cemetery: |
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Evergreen Cemetery lies at the foot of Mount Rubidoux near downtown Riverside. It was founded in 1872, shortly after the founding of the City of Riverside. Over 27,000 souls are buried there, including many cultural and civic leaders, war veterans, and City pioneers. Evergreen Memorial Historic Cemetery is the non-profit that works to preserve and protect the historic portion of the cemetery. Evergreen was recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places. |
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About the Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California: |
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The Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California inspires people of all ages through lifting up the historic and ongoing civil rights stories of the region, fostering community advocacy and building champions of tomorrow. We aspire to connect people from all walks of life through stories, sharing of information, and personal relationships.
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About the Museum of Riverside: The Museum of Riverside, a department of the city of Riverside, holds a large multi-disciplinary collection relevant to the history, culture, and natural science of the region. The Museum has a proud history of exhibitions, programs, and publications foregrounding local and regional achievement. Sites include the downtown Riverside main museum, Heritage House, Harada House, and the Harada House Interpretive Center. All sites except Heritage House are temporarily closed for renovation or rehabilitation. Heritage House is open Friday-Sunday for guided tours; pre-registration for tours is required via Eventbrite. To learn more, visit |
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About Inlandia Institute: Inlandia Institute is a regionally-focused literary and cultural arts nonprofit and publishing house whose mission is to promote literary activity in all its forms throughout Inland Southern California and to celebrate the region in word, image, and sound. To learn more, visit http://inlandiainstitute.org.
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About the Center for Social Justice and Civil Liberties: The Center for Social Justice & Civil Liberties in the Riverside Community College District is an educational center, research museum, and art gallery. It is the home of the one-of-a-kind art collection of Japanese American woman artist and Riverside Community College alumna, Miné Okubo. The Center is committed to social justice and excellence in education and is committed to ongoing dialogues on historical and contemporary issues and struggles for justice. To learn more, visit: https://socialjustice.rccd.edu. |
The CENTER for SOCIAL JUSTICE & CIVIL LIBERTIES RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
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About California Humanities: |
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For 50 years, California Humanities has worked to connect Californians to ideas and one another, helping people learn about their shared history and culture through the humanities. To learn more, visit www.calhum.org. |
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