The people of Minnesota have played an outsized role in international human rights activism and scholarship since the 1970s. The story is also a complicated one. As Minnesota-based actors have made their international impact, the state remains the site of persistent human rights violations. 

Fueled by the resources of the newly established Minnesota Human Rights Archive, "The Global Reach of Local Activism” recounts a compelling slice of local-to-global history, replete with triumphs, setbacks, and ongoing challenges. The exhibit is the first in an ongoing series highlighting unique and extensive archival resources that will soon be available to the public for the first time. 

Join us as we explore Minnesotans' contributions to the global movements to end gender-based violence, racial discrimination, and torture. A call to action offers hope for a better future while acknowledging the unfinished work of protecting human rights in Minnesota and globally. 

The event will kick off with Minnesota human rights experts discussing the successes, challenges, and what is next for women’s rights, the struggle against torture, and racial justice. Panelists include: Loretta Frederick, former Senior Legal and Policy Advisor, Battered Women’s Justice Project (BWJP); Emily Hutchinson, Vice President for Global Programs at Center for Victims of Torture (CVT); and Angela Rose Myers, board chair Minnesota Freedom Fund Action and former President of Minneapolis NAACP.

World renowned human rights scholar, Kathryn Sikkink, will give the keynote address reflecting on the significance of Minnesota human rights activism to the international human rights movement and the importance of archives for human rights and justice work.