Andrew Goodman, one of the Freedom Riders killed in 1964 in Philadelphia, Mississippi while attempting to help black people register to vote, was an Upper West Sider. He was raised at 161 West 86th street, and was just 20 years old when he died.
On Monday night, religious and political leaders (and regular folks too!) will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Summer and the brave actions of people like Goodman with a talk at West-Park Presbyterian Church on the corner of 86th and Amsterdam. Check out the flyer below:
I would also encourage everyone to look at the beautiful plaque placed at the corner of 70th and Freedom Place (so named for the work of these brave men).
For the newbies to the ‘hood: Freedom Place is a four block stretch between 66th and 70th, between (parallel to) West End and the start of Trumpland.