A Sphere Education Initiatives Special Event 

# *Mississippi Turning*

### Free Speech, Productive Disagreement, and the Confederate Flag Debate 

##### Watch the Event 

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Date and Time 

May 16, 2024 1 - 3 PM EDT 

Location 

Cato Institute, 1000 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 

Share This Event 

##### Featuring 

![Allan Carey headshot](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2025-03/Allan%20Carey-circle.jpg?itok=u2O4QFNZ) 

Allan Carey 

Senior Director, Educational and Talent Programs, Cato Institute

![Irshad Manji](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2024-04/irshad-manji-circle.jpeg?itok=N-596gSr) 

Irshad Manji 

Founder, Moral Courage College

![Genesis Be](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2024-04/genesis-be-circle.jpeg?itok=NcxT5SG8) 

Genesis Be 

Activist; Founder, People Not Things

![Russ Latino](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2024-04/russ-latino-circle.jpeg?itok=9DeKlMkJ) 

Russ Latino 

Founder, *Magnolia Tribune*

In January 2021, Mississippi replaced its state flag, the culmination of a process that saw years of debate, protest, and fervid disagreement. Join us on May 16 for an event cohosted by the Cato Institute, Sphere Education Initiatives, and the Moral Courage Project. We’ll explore the political and social environment surrounding the flag debate and examine the skills of productive disagreement through the story of Genesis and Louis, two young people who came together to understand and learn from each other in these polarizing times.

The event will be held in person at the Cato Institute and streamed live online, and will feature:

- a screening of the 30-minute documentary *Mississippi Turning*, which will be released publicly later this year; and
- conversations with the film’s star, the film’s executive producer, and a leading figure in Mississippi politics.

**Reception to follow.**

1:00 - 1:10 PM 

**Opening Remarks**

**Allan Carey**, Director, Sphere Education Initiatives 
**Irshad Manji**, Founder, Moral Courage College

1:10 - 1:40 PM 

**Screening of *Mississippi Turning***

1:40 - 2:10 PM 

**Fireside Conversation**

**Genesis Be**, Activist; Founder, People Not Things 
**Russ Latino**, Founder, *Magnolia Tribune* 
**Irshad Manji**, Founder, Moral Courage College

- Moderated by **Allan Carey**, Director, Sphere Education Initiatives

2:10 - 2:25 PM 

**Question and Answer**

2:25 - 2:30 PM 

**Closing Remarks**

2:30 - 3:00 PM 

**Reception**

![Mississippi Turning](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/promo_block_book_cover_1x/public/2024-04/mississippi-turning.jpeg?itok=hM1AW_T8) 

##### Featured Film 

### *[Mississippi Turning](https://www.breakout.today/mississippi-turning)*

Genesis and Louis grew up in Mississippi. Despite attending the same grade school, they didn’t know each other as adults. All they knew is that they disagreed about keeping the Confederate battle emblem in the state flag. After mounting a passionate protest against it, Genesis tried something new: to understand Louis’s point of view. That’s when things got interesting …

[About the Film](https://www.breakout.today/mississippi-turning) 

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This work is licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/).