Lincoln, Neb. — August 28, 2019

Today (August 28th) the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Rally and March announced its 25th-anniversary theme at a press conference attended by area community stakeholders, an elected official and media. The announcement made in the Union Bank Catalyst room located in the Historic Haymarket.

The 25th annual theme “Walk Together” was announced in conjunction with the 56th anniversary of the August 28th, 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom where Rev. Dr. King, Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. Symbolic the theme will seek to galvanize the community around a common walk similar to what 250,000 people who marched in Washington, D.C. with King, Jr. and other civil rights leaders to protest racial discrimination and to show support for major civil rights legislation that was pending in Congress.

Complimenting the theme the committee unveiled a year-long “movement” initiative that would also honor the contributions of the past and acknowledge the movement and the community action that still needs to happen within the current climate to reach the mountaintop of justice and equity for all that Rev. Dr. King, Jr. often referenced.

“Our Walk for the last 24 years has brought thousands of people of different walks of life together. Our committee has been comprised of youth with different walks. They have come from Lincoln, Eagle, Norris, Raymond, public, private school, been of different gender, race, interest and had different levels of racial empathy but in the end we shared a common walk and stood before this community accepting the challenge of the late Dr. Leola Bullock standing up and speaking out to honor the walk Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. embraced so I could walk today,” said Azcia’ Fleming, Planning Committee Chair and Lincoln High School Senior.

Dr. Jake Kirkland, Jr., with the late Dr. Leola Bullock, was one of the original rally founders spoke to calling and desire of Dr. Bullock for youth not to forget about the contributions of their elders and responsibility they had to keep walking long after they could not.

Brittney Hodges-Bolkovac, one of the earliest planning committee members and current adult adviser now has a child of her own participating shared about her walk during her time with the rally. She reflected on its growth, the role young people like Claudette Colvin, Ruby Bridges and now Congressman John Lewis played in the Civil Rights movement

“Youth have always had a role in change. I gonna take some liberties here in front of you and say we are going to need them now more than ever to lead the walk so we see the change we would like, excuse me, need to see,” said Hodges-Bolkovac. “It will be youth like those on this planning committee that will be charged with keeping us walking us forward even when some would like us to go in reverse. We’ll need not just black, but white’s, females, males, those with varying faith and sexual orientation to walk together ensuring the rights of equality, justice, the kindness we should be afforded as a human being.” Pete Ferguson who has served as an adult adviser for 20 years share complementary components to help elevate the theme which will support the committee’s desire for the community to galvanize and WALK toward a common goal…civility.

Under the Walk “One Step” umbrella the committee will facilitate “My Walk” sessions in September, October, November, and December. During these sessions, identified community members will provide insight into their walk.
A “Walk Together” mural is being produced slated to be unveiled January 2020.

The committee has made initial outreach gathering commitments from people to share their WALK and steps taken within their respective shoes and how they may have shaped their walk. Planning committee received initial commitments and is seeking the shoes of various people including but not limited to celebrities, athletes, community leaders, youth, and everyday people asking them to donate a pair of signed shoes and some insight about their walk.

Collected shoes and summaries of their WALK will be shared with the greater community, classes, organizations groups and displayed at various location in Lincoln possibly across the state and on full display at the 25th annual Youth Rally and March Monday, January 20, 2020.

Initial shoes received or committed include;

· Albert Maxey – Artist / Bodyguard for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1964 when he assigned to spend the day with King.
· Sam Dixon – Nebraska Wesleyan Head Women’s Coach
· Jarell Roach – Military, Motivational Speaker, Father
· Pablo Cervantes – Professional Dancer, Business Owner
· Bennie Shobe – Lincoln City Council Member
· Dominique Kelley Johnson – Former Husker, Current Lincoln High School Basketball Coach

“Those we’ve secured commitments from merely scratch the surface. Within our initial conversations, the interest desire to support has been great and we anticipate really exciting shoe commitments in the coming weeks and months,” said Ferguson.

Bi-weekly two “walks” will be shared via the Youth Rally and March social media outlets Twitter @mrally93 and Facebook page Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Rally and March @mlkyouthrally.

If you would like to gather more information about how you can be involved contact pferguson88@yahoo.com or 402.730.8709.

The Rally and March entering its 25th year is a youth-run experience honoring the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and local civil rights leader Dr. Leola Bullock. Involving area youth, the committee is charged with promoting the lives and dreams of King and Bullock through positive youth action while creating an experience that inspires, educates, and entertains. The 25th experience will take place Monday, January 20, 2020, in downtown Lincoln.

For more information: E-mail: pferguson88@yahoo.com
Phone: 402.730.8709
Website: mlkyouthrallymarch.teamapp.com
Twitter: @mlkrally93

Location

Lincoln, Nebraska