A Journey Through Freedom Summer: The Story Behind "Love Letter from Pig"

In the summer of 1964, Luke Kabat, a medical student at Stanford, journeyed to Mississippi. There, he taught high school biology and helped register Black voters as part of Freedom Summer. Luke’s volunteering took him into the epicenter of the Civil Rights movement, including being jailed for taking Black students out for ice cream. Luke returned to campus, fell in love, married, and, with the wealth of letters, diaries, and essays he had written over the summer, hoped to shape the Stanford campus views on both Civil Rights and the Vietnam War. Tragically, weeks later he was diagnosed with cancer. He died just before his medical school graduation - his writings unpublished.

Julie Kabat, Luke’s sister and a renowned writer, musician, and teacher, has gathered together his work to document his experiences as an activist, finally telling his story of that remarkable summer. Love Letter from Pig is about idealism and courage in the face of adversity, but mostly it’s about love.

Join us for a discussion of Freedom Summer, readings from the book, and songs from the Civil Rights Movement.

SusieCakes and ice cream will be served. Books will be available for purchase and signing.