BUTTE – Children at Butte’s elementary schools learned about the turbulent times more than 50 years ago when Martin Luther King Jr. demanded civil rights. Kids say King made the world a better place.
“Way better and it’s all because of Martin Luther King Jr.,” said Kennedy Elementary student Justin Taylor, 10.
Several Montana Tech students and other volunteers stopped at the Butte schools on Martin Luther King Jr. Day for the MLK Read For Peace event to teach young people King’s legacy.
“He kind of shaped the world with his civil rights movement, he was the main guy who helped jump start the civil rights movement,” said Americorps volunteer Zach Torgerson.
The young students learned the significance of King’s work.
“Black people and white people can use the same bathrooms, use the safe drinking fountains and you didn’t have to give up your seat on the bus,” said Taylor.
You guys did a little assignment where you had to write down what you’d say to him. What would you say to Martin Luther King?
“I would say thank you for making differences in our lives and our world,” said student Dequilla Wasson.
According to a speech by King, “We lived with slavery and segregation 345 years, we’ve waited a long time for freedom.”
Passing on that message to a new generation.
Reporting by John Emeigh for MTN News
