Editor’s Note: Ivy Holley of Lima presented this speech at the State of Ohio MLK Celebration
#49yearslater
By Ivy Holley
April 5th 1968, a headline in the Lima News about Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination read: He Championed Civil Rights for 13 years. Six days later, the Lima News headlines read : LBJ signs the Civil Rights Act of 1968. After 13 years of fighting in the chaos, King missed a first real sign of the power community by only six days. The man with the booming voice and the inspirational message for the country was gone. The United States lost a great civil rights leader. A man who was persistent in his work for justice. Today, the Civil Right movement still doesn’t have an iconic leader like Dr Martin Luther King. But even 49 years after that tragic day, we as a country are constantly witnessing community in the face of chaos.
#49yearsago #fastfoward
Today, the news feed on my phone is filled with stories of chaos. South Carolina Student dragged from seat and body slammed ( video), Texas, Teen slammed by Police During End of school Year Pool Party (video), Texas, Woman Dies in Cell after Traffic Arrest (video), Maryland, Man Dies from Spinal Cord Injury after Arrest (video), Ohio, Pre-teen, Holding Toy Gun Shot by Police( video), Ohio, man pulls gun off of Wal-mart shelf, shot by police (video).South Carolina, Police shoot Unarmed Suspect ( video), Illinois, Police Officer Shoots Unarmed Suspect (video),North Carolina, Unarmed Suspect, killed, Texas, Unarmed Suspect Killed, New York, Unarmed Suspect killed.
#policebrutality #injustice #blacklivesmatter #brownlivesmatter #yesalllivesmatter #wejustwantjustice
I stopped watching the videos long ago. They all turn out the same way: the sound of shots followed by months of investigation, followed by a community feeling injustice. But just because, I choose not click on these videos of senseless deaths, doesn’t mean I’m not paying attention. I hear the call of my community for change, for justice. I hear the footsteps of the marching brothers and sisters. I see the community leaders calling for peaceful protests .
Yes, I do see people acting out in anger, in rage. I see the ignorant memes. I see the riots.I see the looting. I see the buildings on fire.
#Iseeyou #Iseebothofyou
I see beyond the protest to the people who are making efforts in their own small way. I see the man who reached into his wallet to pay young black boys to only play with their shiny toy guns inside. I see the police officer who joined young children in pickup game on the neighborhood basketball court. I see the officers who hit the quan and hit the nae nae along the side of young black children. I see the effort to show that it’s not us versus them. I see the effort to come together as one.
# Iseeyoutoo #buteffortisntenough
Today the civil rights movement still doesn’t have a leader like Martin Luther King. We don’t have that one booming voice to keep us focused on the goal. But out country will remember King’s words ” We will not be stasifed till just rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream”. We will remember Kings words and fight on as one as a community until there is justice.
#truth #Thankyou
