MSSU MLK Day
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
Local residents join in the nation-wide celebration to honor a fallen civil rights leader. Students and Faculty at Missouri Southern State University were just some of the area residents to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. Sheyann Webb-Christburg spoke to students and faculty at Missouri Southern today. When she was eight years old, she walked with Dr. King in a historic civil rights march in Selma, Alabama.
Today, she told the story of marching across the Edmund Pettus bridge on March 7th, 1965,a day which has come to be known as bloody Sunday.
On that day State Troopers sprayed tear gas and beat many citizens taking part in the march. Many years later, she says it`s important to remember Dr. King`s teaching of non-violence and to learn from his words.
"There is a dying need for young peopel to be educated on that movement on what happened and also to inspire and to motivate to learn more about that movement because it`s important to be educated but to do what they need to do in terms of making a difference. in that which surrounds them,"said Webb-Christburg. This was Webb-Christburg`s first visit to Joplin and she says she felt very welcome by the University.
Reported By: Brad Douglas
