Dartmouth College, October 20, 2022

What does it mean to be a dissident today? Worldwide, those who advocate for democracy and political freedom may risk changing their lives forever when they raise their voice against the prevailing authority of government, political party, or other entity or individual. They may face persecution, jail, torture, and exile.

We welcome two such leaders to Dartmouth: Garry Kasparov, world-renowned Chess Champion, founder of the Renew Democracy Initiative, author, and democracy and human rights advocate from Russia and Evan Mawarire, creator of the #ThisFlag movement, advocate, speaker, and trainer on nonviolent citizen-driven change, democracy development and human rights from Zimbabwe, to help us unpack this question. Both demonstrate courage in the face of oppression.