“So instead of it being a day off, we want it to be a day on, where our students are out in the community, serving and giving back, because that is all about Dr. King’s legacy”.
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In light of recent events and what he called xenophobia across the country, Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig of Washington Hebrew Congregation (WHC) made a decision to include hundreds of Muslim and Christian volunteers in his already large day of service.
“When you’re doing something like this and giving back to your community, you’re realizing (Dr. King’s) vision of people working together to help out”, Hooper said.
As participants marched to the south steps of the Capitol, Harper joined in. Boyd noted that Arizona was the only state in the union to actually vote on whether Dr. King’s birthday should be a holiday. He said, “I think he’d be disappointed by our inability to fully embrace his vision of a beloved community”.
“He definitely had the charisma and the intelligence, and education”, he said.
“When Bishop Hines founded our school, he was trying to carry on the message Dr. King’s carrying on”, Harper said.
“I think it’s time to stop the history of violence and segregation and discrimination”, said Wittkamper.
The Rev. Bernice King, daughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., speaks at the King holiday commemorative service at Ebenezer Baptist Church, the church where King preached, Monday, Jan. 18, 2016, in Atlanta.
In Pittsburgh, celebrations were held all throughout the weekend.
The January 18 meeting was a continuation of the last session in November.
Swinton says the uses the fun parade as a way to open up the conversation about the past and present struggles with race and inequality. Today’s topics included education and systemic racism. Songs about how one day we will all be “free” and united as Dr. King so advocated for were heard along the route, and many say the demonstration was a way for everyone to come together.
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The next meeting will be on February 18 in Lewisburg.
