During the span of three years, August 1992 to April 1995, the citizens of our nation witnessed the assault of federal forces against United States civilians at three locations: Ruby Ridge, Waco, and Oklahoma City. These separate events have been linked by media reports and publications based on several themes: freedom, religion, and guns. From the distance of 30 years, we will explore the individuals and the decision making that led to so much death and destruction in the heartland of America. We will pierce the headlines of history and discover what really happened.

John Powers, who earned a master’s degree in fine arts, is a writer and director with experience in theater and film. Drawing on recent United States history as source material for several productions, he has also developed this material into provocative classroom engagements, such as “Nixon and the Pentagon Papers,” “1968: The Year That Rocked” and “Pearl Harbor Reconsidered.” He has been an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) instructor since 2013.