Athens Human Rights Festival History 1979-2005

The University of Georgia Free Speech Task Force organized the Memorial Students' Rights Festival at Legion Field on Friday, May 4, 1979 to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the Kent State murders. Gene Guerrero (Director - Georgia American Civil Liberties Union) urged students to oppose the reinstatement of the draft. Athens attorney Hue Henry criticized UGA President Fred Davison's "pattern of arrogance" and supported the Free Speech Task Force's lawsuit against the Board of Regents' policy of preventing students from addressing Board meetings. Gary Appelson (Athenians for Clean Energy) appealed for unity to fight nuclear power. Promoting solar energy, Appelson said, "We think we are free to go to war and to interfere in the Middle East. Americans are oil junkies." Tommy Jordan played acoustic guitar and has performed at every festival since.

The Athens Human Rights Festival has evolved from a small student rally to a major community event leading up to the present celebration. Thus the contemporary history of the progressive South blossoms in a new millennium.