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Local event today celebrates 50th anniversary of March on Washington

by M. Dilworth • August 23, 2013

On August 28, 1963, more than 200,000 Americans gathered for the 'March on Washington,' a political rally that was a key milestone in the civil rights movement. (Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons) The local chapter of the NAACP is commemorating the March on Washington with an event on Aug. 24 at Growing Valley Baptist Church in Lancaster.
On August 28, 1963, more than 200,000 Americans gathered for the ‘March on Washington,’ a political rally that was a key milestone in the civil rights movement. (Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons) The local chapter of the NAACP is commemorating the March on Washington with an event on Saturday, Aug. 24 at Growing Valley Baptist Church in Lancaster.

LANCASTER – The local chapter of the NAACP is inviting all residents to a celebration Saturday to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington.

Themed “Remembering Our Past – Embracing Our Future,” the event will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Growing Valley Baptist Church, located at 44818 20th Street West in Lancaster.

“I think it is imperative for the community to come together, especially in this day and age, to remember and reflect on the work of Dr. King,” said Growing Valley Baptist Church pastor Jacob Johnson. “I think it’s even more fitting that our church would host the event because we are oldest African American church in the Antelope Valley.”

On August 28, 1963, more than 200,000 Americans gathered in Washington D.C. for a political rally, which became a key milestone in the civil rights movement. On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired millions across the world with a 17-minute speech most commonly referred to as the “I Have a Dream Speech.” (View video of the speech below)

“We call it the ‘I Have a Dream Speech’ but it was actually entitled ‘Normalcy Never Again,’” Johnson said. “I think it’s important for us to come together and celebrate that all people are created equal.”

Saturday’s event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington will feature local civil rights activists discussing various issues, including:

  • The Department of Justice report (read more here);
  • Law enforcement interaction with the African-American community;
  • Section 8 issues;
  • African-American and Latino rights denied under the California Voting Rights Act in Palmdale;
  • The campaign to “remove the box” to help secure jobs in the Antelope Valley;
  • “Stand your ground” laws and what must be done to keep the spirit of Trayvon Martin alive, and much more.

“In the backdrop of the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement, the AV-NAACP will lay out [the] next steps we must take in the Antelope Valley to fulfill the dream of Dr. King in bringing “Justice, Jobs, Freedom and Equality” in the heart of our community,” stated AV-NAACP President  V. Jesse Smith.

This event is free and open to the public. To R.S.V.P., call 661-222-8144 and leave your name and telephone number. View a flyer for this event here.

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Filed Under: Lancaster

3 comments for "Local event today celebrates 50th anniversary of March on Washington"

  1. The Dream says

    August 23, 2013 at 11:17 pm

    Hey AV-NAACP, please read and address this: http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-0824-banks-homicide-20130824,0,6439646.column

  2. The Dream says

    August 23, 2013 at 10:54 pm

    To the Civil Right Activists capitalizing on this historic event: Please discuss the issues that are the most significant issues affecting our Black community. They are: #1: Black on Black crime and murders; #2: unwed mothers and fatherless households; #3: personal responsibility; #4: prioritizing and glorifying education, etc…….

    * The DOJ report is not addressing the real issues, only validating the “poor me” mentality that will always hold us back.
    * Law Enforcement interaction?? Only have to worry about that if you are out hanging out, smoking dope, drinking, and stealing. Those of us in the Black community who are working hard and doing right never seem to have negative interactions with the police. Amazing how that happens!
    * Section 8? Really? Please don’t discuss Section 8? This was not part of Dr. King’s Dream!
    * “Stand Your Ground” laws? Please…. Keep wasting our time with something that is not even the law in California. That includes Palmdale and Lancaster! The Trayvon Martin media hype has run it’s course. Now back to the reality of what is truly affecting our community. Black on Black crime. No more race baiting, its time to get SERIOUS and Keep it Real!

    • Pat says

      August 25, 2013 at 12:44 pm

      @The Dream, You should be leading the Civil Rights Activits in the Antelope Valley. You are well aware of the real problems plaguing this area. Please continue to articulate your thoughts often as they may very well plant the needed seed of change. Thanks:)

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