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A Mississippi group has proposed placing two historical markers to memorialize the 1955 abduction and murder of Emmett Till, a 14 year old African American boy. The Emmett Till Memorial Commission has requested permission to place one marker in front of the location of the former grocery store called Bryant’s where Till allegedly whistled at a white woman, and another marker at the East Money Church of God. This Saturday is the 55th anniversary of the murder of Emmett Till, an incident that galvanized the civil rights movement. Highways Performance Space in Santa Monica commemorated the horrifying incident and its repercussions five years ago with a project curated by Kevin Spicer called “The Murder of Emmett Till – Fifty Years Later.” This Friday, Spicer returns to Highways with a new series of performance works called simply “The Emmett Till Project” promising to make it “an emotional, provocative, and ultimately healing experience.” The Emmett Till Project is a fundraiser for Highways Performance Space.

GUESTS: Kevin Spicer, curator for The Emmett Till Project, J M Morris, Highways invited writer and producer, Tommy Hicks, Actor/Director, and S. Pearl Sharp, writer, performer and film maker.

“The Emmett Till Project” opens Friday, August 27, 2010 at 8:30 pm, with an additional performance on Saturday August 28, 2010 (also at 8:30 pm). The exhibit runs from August 24 – September 5, 2010. The event takes place at the Highways Performance Space and Gallery at The 18th Street Art Center, 1651 18th Street in Santa Monica, CA (1/2 block north of Olympic Blvd. on 18th Street). For reservations, call (310) 315-1459.