Resilience Amid Resistance

You are invited to a living history event on North Main Street in Harrisonburg on May 17. 

During a special dedication ceremony in front of the Federal Courthouse event coordinators will unveil the “Resilience Amid Resistance” state historical marker, commemorating the legal battles that reshaped public education across the Commonwealth. 

This marker is the result of the dedication and civic engagement of former Spotswood High School students Pria Dua and Elizabeth Kidd, who developed it through their research on school desegregation while working on the Knocking Down Walls documentary. Created alongside Cherith Bradshaw, Miriam Loucks, and Samantha Syptak, their documentary received national recognition on Good Morning America, helping to bring this pivotal history to a broader audience.

Honored Guests and Speakers

This event will be more than a ceremony—it will be an opportunity to hear directly from those who lived this history and paved the way for future generations:

Betty Kilby – Lead plaintiff in Kilby v. Warren County

Alex-Zan – The youngest member of the “Charlottesville 12” in Allen v. Charlottesville

Anne Holton – Former Virginia Secretary of Education and professor at George Mason University 

To fully honor this legacy, the City of Harrisonburg will close North Main Street and the surrounding radius, transforming the area into a gathering place for reflection, remembrance, and recognition.

A Companion Museum Exhibit by RCPS Students

The dedication is just the beginning. Later that day, at 12:30 PM at Rocktown History, students from the “Farmville Tour Guides Project” will present a companion exhibition on the fight for school equality across Virginia. 

Both events are free and open to the public.