Civil rights activist to speak at library

The Global Exchange Ventura County Supporters will present a free public lecture titled “My Life as an Activist” by Alice Greenfield McGrath from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wed., Dec. 27 at the Grant Brimhall/Thousand Oaks Library, 1401 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks.

There will be opportunity for questions and answers after the lecture.

McGrath, a longtime Ventura County resident, has been involved for more than 70 years in struggles for economic and legal rights and against prejudice. She was born in 1917 to Russian Jewish immigrants.

In 1942, McGrath took on a pivotal role in the Sleepy Lagoon case, in which young MexicanAmericans in Los Angeles were tried before a hostile judge and jury.

In 1978, “Zoot Suit,” the play and film by Luis Valdez, opened at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. The character of “Alice Bloomfield” was based on McGrath’s involvement in the Sleepy Lagoon case.    In 1984, McGrath made her first trip to Nicaragua. Since then, she’s been there 86 times, leading tours and giving support to the people there.

For more information, visit www.globalexchange.org.