Franklin College will host the fourth lecture of its 2023-2024 Convocation Lecture Series in Richardson Chapel Jan. 15 at 4 p.m. Reverend Sharon Washington Risher will deliver the lecture entitled “Then and Now – What’s Different?” as a noteworthy component of the college’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration.
Washington Risher gained public attention following the tragic Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 17, 2015, where she lost numerous loved ones. Among the victims was her mother, Ethel Lee Lance, who served as the church’s sexton, and eight others, including two cousins and a childhood friend.
Since that devastating event, Washington Risher has been vocal about advocating for changes in the nation’s gun laws. She wrote about the tragedy and its impact in her book “For Such a Time as This: Hope and Forgiveness After the Charleston Massacre.” She also actively represents the advocacy groups Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.
During the upcoming lecture, Washington Risher will delve into how her experiences with the church massacre and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. have profoundly influenced her life. The lecture is free to attend and open to the public. Guests in attendance can purchase a copy of Washington Risher’s book and have it signed.
Franklin College adheres to a longstanding tradition of organizing an annual Convocation Lecture Series that serves to champion the core principles of the institution, which encompass a strong regard for individuals of integrity, a steadfast commitment to inclusivity, the cultivation of an environment marked by intellectual curiosity, a passion for innovation, and creativity and a vibrant spirit of community.
The college will host the final lecture in its 2023-2024 series Mar. 14. To register for Washington Risher’s lecture and learn more about the series, visit alumni.franklincollege.edu.
Contact Racial Justice Reporter Garrett Simms at 317-762-7847.
