A screening of the film Dying to Vote was held last night at USM, hosted by The Center for Human Rights, The Center for Community and Belonging, The College of Arts and Sciences, and the Office of the Provost. The event featured several special guests, including Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker, Dennis Dahmer, representatives from The League of Women Voters Pine Belt, and University of Southern Mississippi President Dr. Joe Paul.
Mayor Barker shared thoughts on the importance of voting.
“You are encouraged to vote; you should vote,” Barker said.
Barker announced that all fees for Hub City Transit will be waived today, and routes have been expanded to include all voting locations in the Hattiesburg area. Additionally, The League of Women Voters Pine Belt will provide free rides to polling centers.
“We vote as a thank you to those who came before us,” Barker said, noting that voting gives people a direct voice in decisions that affect them.
Dying to Vote tells the story of Vernon Dahmer, a civil rights activist who was assassinated by the Ku Klux Klan. His legacy continues through his youngest son, Dennis Dahmer, who shared his father’s story through the film.
The film highlights Vernon Dahmer’s dedication to securing voting rights for African Americans, despite being targeted by violent racist attacks. It also features U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), chairman of the January 6th Committee, discussing his experience during the Capitol insurrection.
“We were told to take off our pins by the security guard [during the Capitol riot], but I didn’t,” Thompson said in the film. “This is a symbol of democracy. This is the symbol of the greatness of this country.”
Vernon Dahmer’s assassination was orchestrated by Klan leader Sam Bowers. His home and store were attacked, set on fire, and riddled with gunfire.
The last time Dennis Dahmer saw his father was Jan. 10th, 1966. He said that his father rose up in his hospital bed, said his wife’s name, and then passed.
“I want to make sure my father’s story is told accurately and is clearly documented,” he added.
He is committed to ensuring his father’s story is accurately told through activism, social media, and screenings of Dying to Vote. A park in Hattiesburg memorializes Vernon Dahmer, and the film is available at DyingtoVote.org.