Transformative Justice Coalition to honor Sarah Collins Rudolph at 2026 voting rights event

Transformative Justice Coalition will host a Sept. 16, 2026 reception in Washington featuring a fireside chat with Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing survivor Sarah Collins Rudolph. The event links the legacy of the 1963 civil rights struggle to current voting-rights battles and will include TJC’s 2026 Voting Rights Champion Award.

Why it matters: - The event ties one of the most painful moments in civil rights history to today’s voting-rights fight. - Sarah Collins Rudolph, the sole survivor of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing, will speak about racial hatred, survival and justice. - TJC says the reception is meant to reinforce the need to protect voting rights and build a more inclusive society.

What happened: - The Transformative Justice Coalition will hold its 2026 Voting Rights Champion Awards Reception on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. - The featured program is a fireside chat with Sarah Collins Rudolph, known as the “Fifth Little Girl.” - The event is themed “Yesterday Is Today: The Battle for Voting and Civil Rights in 2026.” - The location will be emailed to registrants 48 hours before the event. - Registration is available through Eventbrite or the TJC website.

The details: - Collins Rudolph survived the Sept. 15, 1963 bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. - The bombing killed four young girls, including Collins Rudolph’s sister, Addie Mae Collins, and seriously injured Collins Rudolph. - TJC will present Collins Rudolph with its 2026 Voting Rights Champion Award. - TJC says the award recognizes her courage, perseverance and continuing struggle for justice. - The fireside chat and reception will be hosted in partnership with attorney A. Scott Bolden of Reed Smith, LLP. - The listed participants are Barbara Arnwine, Daryl D. Jones, Sarah Collins Rudolph and A. Scott Bolden. - Proceeds will support the TJC John Lewis Make Good Trouble Vote Bus. - The bus is intended to travel to marginalized communities, register voters and help transport voters to the polls. - Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law and are strongly encouraged.

Between the lines: - The program uses a civil rights landmark to frame current concerns about disenfranchisement and racial injustice. - TJC is positioning the event as both a commemoration and a mobilization tool for future voting-rights work. - Bolden said he supports TJC’s work on social justice and voting rights and encouraged people to attend and support the organization. - Arnwine and Jones said hearing directly from Collins Rudolph gives the public a firsthand account of the bombing’s impact.

What’s next: - Registrants will receive the event location 48 hours before Sept. 16. - TJC will use event proceeds to fund its voter outreach and transportation efforts. - More information is available through TJC’s website.