44 UHA students witness march's 50th anniversary
Kat Russell, Photojournalist
Kentucky New Era
August 28, 2013
http://www.kentuckynewera.com/news/article_3962bf70-1044-11e3-99f6-0019bb2963f4.html
Associated Press
Thousands of people converged on Washington, D.C., Wednesday — including 44 students from University Heights Academy — to honor the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other prominent civil rights leaders.
Fifty years ago, King led some 200,000 to 300,000 people to the nation’s capital in what was the largest political rally in the history of the United States. On that day, King stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered his famed “I have a Dream” speech.
The event paved the way for the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which was stalled in Congress at the time, and for the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
In memory of the momentous march, the nation’s capital played host to a week-long series of prayer services, a youth leadership training seminar, a round table about women of the movement and discussions on poverty and economic empowerment among other things, before culminating in a commemorative march, dubbed the “Let Freedom Ring” march, Wednesday morning followed by a rally in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
The rally was a star-studded event during which former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton spoke of King’s legacy and the obstacles the nation has yet to overcome. President Barak Obama headlined the event, speaking just after 3 p.m., as King did 50 years ago. In his speech, Obama pointed to economic disparities as a sign that King’s dream, one of economic and racial equality, has yet to be fulfilled.
Serendipitously, 44 senior class members from UHA were in Washington, D.C., on an annual senior trip. They along with their advisor, Marvin Denison, had the opportunity to witness history in the making.
Denison said that the senior “outdoor school” trip takes place every year the week before Labor Day, giving the students a three-day weekend to recover from the festivities upon their return home.
“The idea for ‘outdoor school’ is that it’s a bonding experience for the students at the beginning of the school year,” Denison said. “It’s educational, and we’re taking them to places they may not have the opportunity to go to on their own.”
This year, however, the trip would also give these 44 students the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the commemorative ceremony, as well as hear three presidents speak about progress, change and what has yet to be achieved.
Alex Keys, 17, a senior at UHA, was one of the students who went on the trip. He said being there for the rally was an opportunity of a lifetime.
“Seeing so many leaders of the past and present who have fought for civil rights was just incredible,” he said.
Keys went on to say that he found the speeches to be both visionary and inspiring and that he was thankful to have had the opportunity to share it with so many people.
“It was incredible to see a crowd of that size and to hear nothing but the speakers at the podium,” he said. “It was quite extraordinary to hear complete silence from a crowd of a quarter of a million people.”
Keys went on to say that, as a person who is very interested in politics and who has considered going into politics in the future but felt hesitant to do so, seeing the nation’s capital has made him more open to the idea of pursuing a career in D.C.
Another senior student who went on the trip was Demetria Snorton, 17. She said the trip has been a great experience for her both culturally and educationally.
“We got to hear a lot of influential speakers,” she said. “You can hear about stuff and you can read about stuff all the time, but when you’re actually a part of that, it does something to you. It’s a really special feeling that you have inside.”
Reach Kat Russell at 270-887-3241 or krussell@kentuckynewera.com
Fifty years ago, King led some 200,000 to 300,000 people to the nation’s capital in what was the largest political rally in the history of the United States. On that day, King stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered his famed “I have a Dream” speech.
The event paved the way for the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which was stalled in Congress at the time, and for the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
In memory of the momentous march, the nation’s capital played host to a week-long series of prayer services, a youth leadership training seminar, a round table about women of the movement and discussions on poverty and economic empowerment among other things, before culminating in a commemorative march, dubbed the “Let Freedom Ring” march, Wednesday morning followed by a rally in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
The rally was a star-studded event during which former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton spoke of King’s legacy and the obstacles the nation has yet to overcome. President Barak Obama headlined the event, speaking just after 3 p.m., as King did 50 years ago. In his speech, Obama pointed to economic disparities as a sign that King’s dream, one of economic and racial equality, has yet to be fulfilled.
Serendipitously, 44 senior class members from UHA were in Washington, D.C., on an annual senior trip. They along with their advisor, Marvin Denison, had the opportunity to witness history in the making.
Denison said that the senior “outdoor school” trip takes place every year the week before Labor Day, giving the students a three-day weekend to recover from the festivities upon their return home.
“The idea for ‘outdoor school’ is that it’s a bonding experience for the students at the beginning of the school year,” Denison said. “It’s educational, and we’re taking them to places they may not have the opportunity to go to on their own.”
This year, however, the trip would also give these 44 students the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the commemorative ceremony, as well as hear three presidents speak about progress, change and what has yet to be achieved.
Alex Keys, 17, a senior at UHA, was one of the students who went on the trip. He said being there for the rally was an opportunity of a lifetime.
“Seeing so many leaders of the past and present who have fought for civil rights was just incredible,” he said.
Keys went on to say that he found the speeches to be both visionary and inspiring and that he was thankful to have had the opportunity to share it with so many people.
“It was incredible to see a crowd of that size and to hear nothing but the speakers at the podium,” he said. “It was quite extraordinary to hear complete silence from a crowd of a quarter of a million people.”
Keys went on to say that, as a person who is very interested in politics and who has considered going into politics in the future but felt hesitant to do so, seeing the nation’s capital has made him more open to the idea of pursuing a career in D.C.
Another senior student who went on the trip was Demetria Snorton, 17. She said the trip has been a great experience for her both culturally and educationally.
“We got to hear a lot of influential speakers,” she said. “You can hear about stuff and you can read about stuff all the time, but when you’re actually a part of that, it does something to you. It’s a really special feeling that you have inside.”
Reach Kat Russell at 270-887-3241 or krussell@kentuckynewera.com
