A new calling for equality came from President Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Bill Clinton on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial Aug. 28, all remembering one of the biggest influences on it all, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A day in American history, Aug. 28, 1963, marked King’s “I have a dream” speech that demanded racial equality, after over a century of injustice. Fifty years later, the first black president and other famous civil rights activists came together with new demands: more racial equality, an end to gay and lesbian inequality, an equal chance of success for the disabled and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
Obama made it a point to credit those who followed King’s instruction of peaceful protest. He explained how regular people were just as important as those in the history books.
“Many had gone to segregated schools and sat at segregated lunch counters, lived in towns where they couldn’t vote and in cities where their votes didn’t matter. There were couples in love who couldn’t marry, soldiers who fought for freedoms abroad that they found denied to them at home. They had every reason to lash out in anger and resign themselves to a bitter fate. Yet they chose a different path,” Obama said.
The day was much a reflection of the past. Speakers, congressman John Lewis, President Jimmy Carter and Martin Luther King III, recognized the importance of looking back to the civil rights movement in our country. They touched on the progress America has made, as well issues that are still present.
“It’s nice to recuperate after all the progress since the civil rights movement,” Sidd Gandhi, junior said.
Winfrey’s speech was much on the topic of racial profiling and the flaws our country still faces with it. Being one of the biggest voices on the issue in American culture today, she brought much arousal to the audiences’ attention and audible responses identified agreement from the majority. Similar feelings came from Athens students.
“I think it brings up a major problem that has a long way to go … different races have been limited to their resources and this has created a rift in races and social class,” Gandhi said.
The president also spoke on the country’s progress over the past 50 years, saying it was the work of the people.
“Change does not come from Washington, but to Washington,” Obama said.
Despite this achievement, the president still pointed out the long road ahead.
“The gap in wealth between races has not lessened; it’s grown …This remains our great unfinished business.”
He then went on to encourage the people to make more progress.
“In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it.”
Over their leader’s words, the endless crowd rejoiced on the pressing topic. Over 100,000 people gathered across the national mall, half as many that did 50 years ago.
“Let freedom ring was Dr. King’s closing call for a better and more just America. Today people from all walks of life will gather for bell ringing events all over our great country and the world, as we reaffirm our commitment to Dr. King’s ideals,” Winfrey said, in one of the final speeches.
