Law Enforcement

The Sojourn Project Law Enforcement Experience is an immersive journey through the American South that explores the history of the Civil Rights Movement and its lasting impact on policing, justice, and community relationships. Participants engage with historic sites, firsthand witnesses, and subject matter experts while examining the role of law enforcement through the lens of history.

More than a trip, this experience fosters empathy, strengthens cultural understanding, and equips participants to build trust, enhance community relationships, and lead with compassion.

The Trip

A detailed itinerary will be provided well in advance of your Journey.

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Montgomery, Alabama

Participants visit the Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Museum, where they explore the history of racial injustice in the United States, tracing its evolution from enslavement and Reconstruction through the Jim Crow era, the Civil Rights Movement, and mass incarceration.

The journey continues at the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Civil Rights Memorial, where law enforcement officers pay tribute to the 41 individuals who lost their lives during the Civil Rights Movement and reflect on the ongoing pursuit of justice, equality, and civil rights for all.

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Birmingham, Alabama

Through the firsthand experiences of civil rights activist Rev. Gwen Webb, the law enforcement officers gain a deeper understanding of the Birmingham Children’s March. Having participated in the demonstrations as a child, Rev. Webb brings history to life through powerful personal stories, helping participants connect with the courage, resilience, and determination of the young people whose actions helped advance the Civil Rights Movement.

At the statue of Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, the group learns about one of the Civil Rights Movement’s most courageous leaders and a co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Despite enduring bombings, arrests, and violent attacks, Rev. Shuttlesworth remained steadfast in his commitment to ending segregation in Birmingham. As the officers reflect on his enduring legacy, they consider the leadership, courage, and perseverance that helped transform Birmingham and moved the nation closer to equality and justice.

A visit to 16th Street Baptist Church offers participants an opportunity to confront one of the most tragic moments of the Civil Rights Movement. Four young girls were killed there in a Ku Klux Klan bombing that became a defining moment in the struggle for racial justice. The law enforcement officers meet the sisters of two of the girls, who share firsthand memories and personal reflections, bringing the tragedy into focus while honoring the lives, resilience, and enduring legacy of those whose lives were forever changed.

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Selma, Alabama

Participants cross Selma’s historic Edmund Pettus Bridge, retracing the footsteps of the approximately 600 courageous voting rights marchers who gathered on March 7, 1965, for what became known as “Bloody Sunday.” As they walk the same path where marchers were brutally attacked by Alabama state troopers and vigilantes, they reflect on the bravery, determination, and sacrifice of those who risked their lives in the fight for equal voting rights.

The law enforcement officers also visit a mural in Selma created by Sojourn students from Youngstown, Ohio, connecting their own journey of learning and reflection to the ongoing effort to preserve and share the history of the Civil Rights Movement.

The events in Selma galvanized national support for voting rights and helped lead to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a landmark achievement in the continuing struggle for civil rights in the United States.

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Meridian, Mississippi

Participants visit the gravesite of James Chaney, one of three civil rights workers who were murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in 1964 while working to register Black voters and advance civil rights in Mississippi. During the visit, the law enforcement officers reflect on Chaney’s life, the courage and commitment of those who stood alongside him in the fight for justice, and the lasting impact of their sacrifices on the Civil Rights Movement.

There is also the opportunity to meet Chaney’s daughter, Angela Lewis, who was just 10 days old when her father was murdered. Through her personal stories and reflections, she offers a powerful, firsthand perspective on the human impact of racial violence and the enduring legacy of those who gave their lives in the struggle for equality. Her experiences help the law enforcement officers connect history to the present, deepening their understanding of the sacrifices made in the pursuit of civil rights and inspiring continued commitment to justice and equity.

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Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Participants visit the family property of Vernon Dahmer Sr., a civil rights leader who devoted his life to advancing voting rights and equality in Mississippi. Through this experience, law enforcement officers learn about Dahmer’s extraordinary courage and unwavering commitment to justice, including his efforts to help black citizens register to vote despite persistent threats, intimidation, and violence.

Standing on the land where Dahmer lived—and where his family survived a devastating attack by the Ku Klux Klan—participants reflect on his enduring legacy and the profound sacrifices made by civil rights activists and their families. They also have the unique opportunity to meet Dahmer’s wife, Ellie Dahmer, who at 101 years old, continues to share her firsthand memories and wisdom, as well as his son, Dennis Dahmer, and daughter, Bettie Dahmer. Through their personal stories and reflections, law enforcement officials gain a deeper understanding of Vernon Dahmer’s life, his unwavering pursuit of justice, and the resilience and strength of the family that continues to honor his legacy.

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Jackson, Mississippi

Participants explore the life and enduring legacy of civil rights leader Medgar Evers, including a visit to the home where he was assassinated by a white supremacist. Standing in the driveway where this pivotal moment in American history occurred, the group reflects on the ongoing pursuit of justice and equality. They then write personal reflections on the role each individual can play in creating a more just and compassionate world.

The law enforcement officers are often joined by Myrlie Evers-Williams, Evers’ widow, and Reena Evers-Everette, his daughter, who share personal stories, historical insights, and their steadfast commitment to carrying forward Medgar Evers’ vision of civil rights, equality, and justice for future generations.

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Little Rock, Arkansas

Participants visit Little Rock Central High School, where they meet Little Rock Nine member Elizabeth Eckford and learn about her courageous role in the fight to end segregation in America’s public schools. Throughout the journey, fellow Little Rock Nine member Minnijean Brown-Trickey often joins the group to share her firsthand experiences and reflections on this pivotal chapter in American history.

Together, Elizabeth and Minnijean provide a powerful, personal perspective on the Civil Rights Movement, helping law enforcement officers understand its challenges, triumphs, and enduring legacy. Their stories inspire the next generation to confront injustice, champion equality, and recognize the impact that individual courage can have in creating lasting change.

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Memphis, Tennessee

Participants visit the Lorraine Motel, now home to the National Civil Rights Museum, where they stand at the site where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. As they look up at Room 306, preserved as a memorial to Dr. King’s life and legacy, the group reflects on his courageous leadership, his unwavering commitment to nonviolence, and the continuing work of building a more just and equitable society.

Outside Room 306, the law enforcement officers encounter these words engraved on the memorial plaque: “Behold, here cometh the dreamer. Let us slay him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” These words invite reflection on Dr. King’s life, the Civil Rights Movement he helped lead, and the enduring responsibility to carry forward his dream of equality, justice, peace and human dignity.

Sojourn Project | Experience history. Inspire the future.

Sojourn Project/Sojourn to the Past is a wholly unique, transformative living-history experience rooted in truth, empathy, and moral courage.

875 Lomita Ave, Millbrae, CA 94030
EIN 94-3336985

UPCOMING JOURNEYS

2026-2027

Middle School Trip
November 7-14, 2026

High School Trip
February 13-20, 2027
March 29 – April 5, 2027

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