Stepping out (and up) for human rights
<p>“Free at last, free at last, thank god almighty we are free at last,” recites reverend Happy Watkins, a well known civil rights leader, from Martin Luther King Jr’s iconic “I have a dream” speech for local fifth-graders at Lake City Community Church Thursday.</p>
<p>Seltice Elementary fifth-graders perform a choreographed dance to WOP by J Dash at Lake City Community Church Thursday during a presentation on Martin Luther King Jr and the Civil Rights Movement Hosted by the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations and the Human Rights Education Institute.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Local fifth-graders on Thursday showed that human rights are worth dancing, singing, speaking and hearing about.
Seltice Elementary students danced to a rap song about peace.
Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene kids read their essays about how they're inspired by the likes of Martin Luther King Jr., and Molala Yousafzai for taking a stand on human rights.
They also heard the moving voice of the Rev. Happy Watkins as he recited King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech made 50 years ago.
About 1,400 students attended the 29th annual MLK children's program sponsored by the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations and the Human Rights Education Institute. The event was held in collaboration with the Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene school districts at Lake City Community Church. The MLK holiday is Monday.
Ponderosa student McKenna Harn read her essay about Yousafzai, a Pakistani girl who was shot for standing up for education for women.
"She's a shining example of bravery," Harn said. "Molala's heart is filled with perseverance. She inspires me to keep trying through hard times."
Watkins encouraged students to carry on MLK's dream in their own lives.
"If Martin Luther King was here today, he'd say, 'If you can't be a tree, be a bush. If you can't be a highway, be a trail,'" Watkins said. "He'd tell each of you to be the very best you can be."
West Ridge student Taylor Dolezal said King was brave for taking a stand on civil rights.
"He got through our thick skulls that treating black people badly was wrong," she said.
Mullan Trail student Randy Bowman called King an "American hero."
"No matter what, he never gave up," Bowman said. "He never threatened people or harmed people. He was a peaceful man."
The MLK program has been presented to 36,400 local kids over the years, said Tony Stewart, a founder of the human relations task force.
"Kids from that first year are in their 30s and they now have kids who attend the program," Stewart said. "When a child reads his or her essay to other children, that's powerful."