Leesburg Today - Leesburg Celebrates Longtime Martin Luther King Day Tradition
News Article
By Mike Stancik
For the 23rd straight year, hundreds of residents marched down East Market Street from the courthouse square to the Douglass Community Center to celebrate Martin Luther King Day. A program to honor King was held at the center, filled with musical performances and a speech from George Mason professor Dr. Wendi Manuel-Scott.
"I know this has been a longtime event that brings the community together," said U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA-10), who spent her day off from Congress at Leesburg's celebration. "I think having all the young people here and children helping with the program is very inspiring. I just wanted to come out and support it."
More than 50 years have passed since King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech, and keynote speaker Manuel-Scott said there is still much left to fight for. The theme of this year's celebration was "Stand Up For Justice--Act!"
"If we are to obtain justice, if we are going to resolve the issues of today, if we are going to be a part of creating a more peaceful tomorrow, we must break our silence and we must be like him for justice and equality," Manuel-Scott said to a packed gymnasium. "We must seek freedom and justice with urgency."
The day started with a community dialogue between youth and elders at the community center, which was the last segregated black high school in the area until 1968. That was followed by the annual march that draws well over 500 supporters every year.
The program then took place with several speakers and plenty of entertainment. Director of GAISS Sher JB Singh and Leesburg Mayor Kristen Umstattd gave speeches, the Baha'i Community Choir spoke of inspirational quotes and Boy Scouts from the ADAMS Center read King's most famous speech. Artistic talent was also showcased, as the duo of Tuscarora senior Steven Coakley and Loudoun Valley senior Alie Campbell performed, Tia Glenn-Scott read a poem and Kaelynn Wallace impressed the audience with a creative "Rain" dance.
Manuel-Scott's keynote speech concentrated on the fact that King was more radical than what current textbooks would convey.
"When we learn about these iconic figures, it's often a sanitized history, often a forgetful and distorted history that does not allow us to honor the courageous people who stood up for justice and equality," said Manuel-Scott. "We must reject that version of history If we are going to continue King's legacy, we have to honor the radical King. Let me tell you right now, if Dr. King were here with us today, I am certain he would tell us he would be standing with the people of Ferguson, Missouri and the families of Mike Brown and Eric Garner."
Manuel-Scott told stories of the many struggles King and civil rights leader Rosa Parks went through during their mission for equality, and urged audience members to fight for equal rights for all with a sense of urgency.
Comstock said the quickest way to do that is by working as a community.
"The more we all work together, the better we're going to be as a country," Comstock said. "The 10th district is one of the most diverse districts and there's a wealth of talent from all over the world. We have to always make sure that every pocket of the community knows about the American Dream, and there's no better speech about that dream than King's "I Have a Dream.'"
Source