Newton gathered at Newton North HS to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy in a stirring festival of challenge, inspiration, hope, action, and song focused on the theme of Justice — Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere. NewTV’s video of the event is here.
Music was provided by the Troubadours, the Jubilee Singers, and Luidgi Daniel. Speakers included Rhiannon Esposito, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, Chris Sterling, Rev. Boris Collins, Annyka Saint Preux, Eva Janairo, Hidaya Bukenya, Shyun Moon, Nick Makura, NSHS Principal Tamara Stras, keynote speaker Prof. Jessie Tauriac, and host Rev. Devlin Scott.
Story Starters led the children’s programming, sparking conversations about what it means to make our schools, Newton, and our country more just and fair. Some of the ideas that families shared:
- At school let’s…
- Around Newton let’s remember to…
- “(as a White person) listen and speak WITH people of color about race, NOT OVER”
- “If you see people being treated poorly, say something to help, be an upstander not a bystander”
- In our country we can…
- “Go to protests, support activists, listen to things that are happening to people around the world.”
