Williamsburg marches for equality

Williamsburg Elementary School celebrated diversity last Friday afternoon during its “March on Williamsburg Peace Walk” honoring Martin Luther King Jr.

The walk was organized by the school’s Cultural Diversity/Closing the Gap committee, which focuses on educating students on different cultures throughout the year.

The peace walk began with the entire student body meeting on the blacktop outside the school and listening to school counselor Andrea Davis discuss why they were there. Students sang a song inspiring other students to walk for peace.

The younger kids split off from the older kids and the two groups walked two different tracks on the school’s campus.

Students held signs with words like, “My little hand can change the world,” and “I have a dream.” During the walk, King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech played in the background.

The speech included the memorable phrase, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

King’s dream lived on at Williamsburg Elementary School during the march. Students joined together, laughing, giggling, chanting and singing as they walked the tracks of the school.

“We wanted to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King,” Davis said. “We thought it was important and imperative our students knew what it meant to stand up for something they believe in, and what better way to celebrate than Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday.”

Davis said teachers taught their students they have rights and they can stand up for their ideals and morals. They also taught their students they could make a difference in the world.

Davis said Williamsburg Elementary School is a very diverse school filled with many cultures. She said it’s important for the community to know the school is well aware of that diversity and they celebrate one another’s differences and cultures.

“We all are one and we all can make a difference and we all matter,” Davis said. “That’s the biggest thing we want to convey to our students, our staff and the community on a broad scale.”

Davis said programs like this one allow the students to realize the world is a diverse place and to celebrate the diversity around them.