This past Saturday, Francis Lewis High School's very own Concert Choir helped honored a legend of civil rights, 101 year old Amelia Boynton Robinson in Manhattan's Riverside Church. Ms. Robinson was best known for participating in the "Bloody Sunday" Alabama civil rights march in 1965 which involved walking from Selma to Montgomery as a cause for black voting rights. During the march, police officers attacked many of the protesters. Among them were Robinson. Robinson was left for dead on a bridge after getting beaten by officers. After that, two more marches were held in Alabama that year until President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, letting people of every different color vote.
Robinson said to the audience that "Hate is like a garbage pail. If you put hate in it, you won't find love. She received standing ovations from the crowd, noting her important role in civil rights history. It was a day of celebration, joy and happiness honoring civil rights and Robinson.
Several speakers from former U.S Attorney General (1967-69) Ramsey Clark to Southern Christian Leadership Conference Chairman Dr. Bernard Lafayette came to talk about Amelia and her role in the rights movement. Our very own choir performed some songs for Robinson and they delivered a rousing and angelic performance that you could have been there to see and hear them. Before the event, some of the Choir members talked about how they feel about performing for a civil rights legend:
"I'm excited. I think that civil rights is a good thing to fight for."
-Adiba
"I feel honored for this performance because of the cause."
-Andrew
"I feel proud and honored performing for a good cause. I think that civil rights is a good movement and I believe that everyone should be equal."
-Krista
"I think it's a great experience to witness history."
-Mitch
"I feel happy because it's a wonderful experience. I think that civil rights is a good thing."
-Victoria
"I feel very excited and proud. I feel that civil rights is a good thing and we did need them"
-Sarika
48 years later after "Bloody Sunday", Robinson says that she is not finished with the fight against civil rights. She still carries on a torch that calls for freedom for all people and many of us will stand by her no matter what happens into the future.
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