By Cassandra Lans
Beginning on Friday, Aug. 23, 2014 Milwaukee will follow the rest of the nation and celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
Local activists and organizations in Milwaukee will come together on Saturday, Aug. 24 to unite in the fight for victory over poverty, violence, education, police misconduct, unemployment and civil rights.
According to one of Saturday’s event organizer, Activist Tracey Dent,various representatives from the Sikh Temple, Nation of Islam, Voces De La Frontera, Pastors United, Churches, Milwaukee Urban League, NAACP, Queen Council, Career Youth Development(CYD), Voices Against Violence, Peace for Change Alliance and more will participate in this event.
The theme of this event is ‘One Milwaukee’ and there will be a re-enactment of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s ‘I Have A Dream’ speech. There will also be a March that will begin at 11:30 am. Participants will meet at the King Statue located on Dr. Martin Luther King, Dr. and Vine Streets and march to the Victory Over Violence Park on MLK Dr. and Clark Street.
Guest speakers will include Tory Lowe, Brian Verdin, members from the various organizations mentioned earlier.
The event will also honor Milwaukee trailblazers of the past and present.
Other events regarding the 50th Anniversary Celebration in Milwaukee will include:
• The Wisconsin Black Historical Society (2620 W. Center St.; parking in the rear) will host a panel discussion about the March on Washington on Friday, Aug. 23, at 6:30 p.m. Panelists include George Paz Martin.
• Milwaukee Public Library’s Martin Luther King Library (310 W. Locust St.), in partnership with the Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum, will display a March on Washington photo exhibit through Sept. 12 and host events on Wednesday, Aug. 28. The Villard Square Library (5190 N. 35th St.) will host an I Have a Dream Intergenerational Mini- March on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 5:30-7 p.m. The Central Library (814 W. Wisconsin Ave.) will display a Historical March on Washington Exhibit through Sept. 11.