Well over one thousand people braved the winter weather to gather in the snow covered parking lot of Charles Drew Health Care Center for Dayton’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day march. Stragglers trickled in and news cameras rolled as the marchers lined up, and organizers with megaphones energized the crowd and brought smiles to shivering cold faces.
Amaha Sellassie, a Sinclair Sociology professor, was one of the coordinators of the event and led the march, chanting messages of unity in the front of the crowd.
2018 marks 35 years since President Ronald Reagan signed into law the bill that made the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, a federal holiday, in accordance to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
Dr. King, at the time was a controversial figure, and in a way still is. Two American states, Alabama and Mississippi, still observe Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s birthday simultaneously with Dr. King’s birthday.
The size of Dayton’s march continued to grow as it moved down Third Street, gaining late arriving marchers and a group of over 100 more from Sinclair College.
Sinclair student and African American Male Initiative (AAMI) member, Justin Baker was one of dozens of young black men singing “Wade Through the Water” while marching behind their AAMI banner.
“To me this march connects me with those who marched before us to secure the rights and privileges granted to me today, that I take full advantage of,” said Baker.
Sinclair held an event before the march in the Great Hall in building 12, where President Steven Johnson and Chief Diversity Officer Michael Carter gave speeches to the attendees addressing Dr. King’s teachings and putting them to use in today’s world.
“…We need to be fit when it comes to the principles and ideals of diversity and inclusion and those things that Martin Luther King lived for, stood for and ultimately died for,” Johnson said.
Carter’s speech relayed the importance of speaking out against injustice, and challenging ourselves to be more inclusive of others.
“Today the challenge is even more urgent for us to be the change we wish to see in the world,” Carter said. “…It’s up to us to either fulfil Dr. King’s dream or fall short of it. We must discover unity out of our diversity.”
Following this was a performance by True Worship, a gospel group led by Tommy McGuffey, a Sinclair alum. After that, those in attendance bundled up and funneled in with the other marchers on Third Street.
Signs and banners showed the crowd’s diversity as labor unions, churches and mosques, Kettering Health Network, Sinclair students, staff and alumni, off duty police officers, NAACP and Black Lives Matter activists marched in solidarity.
Policemen and women in dress uniform sprinkled the same crowd that included the friends and family members of Jamarco D. McShann, the 23 year old black Dayton resident who was shot and killed by two Moraine police officers Oct. 20, 2017. McShann’s family has since called for a civil rights investigation. The shooting was not captured on body camera or cruiser camera, as Moraine Police do not use either one.
McShann’s death came while the nation is in discussion and conflict over police brutality, inequality and institutional racism. Ohio itself has in recent years made national headlines with the police shooting deaths of unarmed young black men, John Crawford III, 22, and Tamir Rice, 12.
National racial tension has ran high in the past year, with the inauguration and controversial actions from President Donald J. Trump.
He faces criticism from citizens who see his statements as racist, such as his “sh*t-hole” comment referring to predominantly black countries, dismissal of the athletes that protest the national anthem at sporting events, and his perceived inaction in the face of hate groups seen after a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, NC.
Dayton’s marchers continued through the wind and snow down Third Street, then made a right turn on to Main Street to The Dayton Convention Center. Inside the convention center, marchers took seats in rows of bleachers to hear from a variety of speakers.
The speakers included Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, Ohio 10th district congressman, Rep. Michael Turner and professional motivational speaker and youth motivator, David Anthony Johnson. Johnson had the crowds full attention as he donned Dr. King’s persona, and recited King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
Dayton community and faith based organizations hosted events throughout the rest of the day, including a breakfast, a free screening of “Hidden Figures” at Neon Movies, a youth celebration, a banquet whose theme was “Am I My Brother’s Keeper,” and a spaghetti dinner.
The diversity of the day’s celebration was inspiring. Young children marched with the elderly, white men marched with black women, Korean Americans marched with Muslim Americans and police marched with civillians on this day of inclusion, solidarity and love.
Will Drewing
Reporter
Henry Wolski
Executive Editor