On January 21, about 200 people gathered at North Salem High School to listen to a presentation lead by students in the Salem Keizer school district, the ROJC [Racial Justice Organizing Committee] and NAACP [National Association for the Advancement of Colored People] members. They then marched to the Salem Capitol and protested for racial equality and justice. The march was partially lead by South’s new Black Student Union [BSU]
Kundai Kapurura ’19 and her sister Kudzai Kapurura ’19 participate every year. They both believe in political activism and different movements that unite people.
“I think it is important for young people to get involved, because we are the future. We must know what we’re getting into and how we’ll handle that when we get there… If we’re not ready by the time we get to be adults, it will not work as well if we don’t know what we’re doing,” Kundai Kapurara said.
Kudzai Kapurara had the chance to write and present a speech this year. She has encouraged many of her friends to get more involved in the community.
“The division in our political society has been very much a bad thing, but also a good thing. It’s forced us to step up as leaders in our communities, and teach our friends what it means to be respectful and embrace other races and other cultures. However, it would be beneficial if the federal government taught us what it means to be accepting,” Kudzai Kapurara said.
At the MLK march people from all over Salem with different cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds come together to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.
“This year, I decided to attend, because I think that it unites everybody in Salem. Multiple backgrounds and cultures come and I think that’s what Martin Luther King (Jr.) wanted. I think he wanted everybody to unite in harmony,” Julius Scott ’20 said.
The march also included a religious aspect with gospels like Swing Low Chariot and Lift Every Voice and Sing. There was a preayer and a service at the end of the day at Seed of Faith Ministries. The theme of this year’s program was “Is the Dream Still Revelant?”
