Rita Schwerner Bender

Rita Levant Schwerner Bender, a steadfast and unwavering advocate for civil rights and a respected legal authority, has devoted her existence to a relentless pursuit of social justice and equality. Her extraordinary odyssey commenced with an unshakeable sense of purpose and conviction, as she courageously joined the Freedom Summer of 1964 alongside her first husband, Michael Schwerner, a kindred spirit in the shared quest for racial harmony.