History Of American Protests Topic Of Avon Library Event

AVON, CT — Given the political climate nationally, a program at the local library next week seems quite apropos.

Constitutional law scholar and author Gloria J. Browne-Marshall will discuss her book "A Protest History of the United States" during an in-person event on Monday, March 16, at the Avon Free Public Library.

The moderated conversation is scheduled from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the library, located at 281 Country Club Road, and is part of the library’s adult programming and Local Author Festival.

Browne-Marshall’s book examines more than 500 years of protest and resistance in the United States, beginning with Indigenous opposition to European colonization and continuing through modern demonstrations addressing issues such as climate change.

The work is part of Beacon Press’s ReVisioning History series, which features accessible historical analysis by scholars offering new perspectives on American history.

Drawing on legal records, archival materials, memoirs, and government documents, Browne-Marshall expands the concept of protest beyond marches and rallies.

Her research highlights other forms of resistance, including journalism, legal challenges, boycotts, and everyday acts of defiance.

The book profiles historical figures and movements that shaped social change, including abolitionist John Brown, who led the 1859 slave revolt at Harpers Ferry; labor organizer Mother Jones, an advocate for the eight-hour workday; and civil rights leader Daisy Bates, who helped guide the 1957 Little Rock school integration effort.

Browne-Marshall is a professor of constitutional law and Africana studies at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, part of the City University of New York system.

She has litigated cases for organizations including the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and Community Legal ServiceShe has litigated cases for organizations including the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and Community Legal Servics.

An award-winning writer and legal commentator, Browne-Defense Fund, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and Community LeMarshall frequAn award-winning writer and legal commentator, Browne-Marshall frequently appears on outlets such as CNN, NPR, and MS Now (formery MSNBC).

Library officials said the discussion will explore how diverse forms of sustained protest have contributed to social and political change in the United States and how historical movements can inform contemporary struggles for justice.

For more information and to register for the free program, click on this link.