By Isabella Bravo
Co-Editor | The Pacific Times
On Nov. 14, NP3 community members gathered at Walgreens at 8 a.m. to walk to school in honor of Ruby Bridges.
Bridges was the first African-American girl to attend an all-white school in 1960, following the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision and during the integration of schools.
According to the student government announcements, the walk aimed to honor Bridges’ bravery and resilience and celebrate her contributions to American society. Students were encouraged to wear purple to the event.
“Mrs. Hembree came to us with the idea last week during our meeting about Ruby Bridges Day,” said Black Student Union president Isabella Patterson. “I automatically loved it; I didn’t have to think about it. I thought this was great.”
Students and teachers walked to school at 8:10 a.m. in solidarity with Bridges’ before arriving at 8:20 a.m. About 30 people were in attendance.
On Nov. 14, 1960, Bridges and her mother were escorted by federal marshals to William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana. Despite outrage in the community, Bridges continued to attend school.
Patterson adds, “Ruby Bridges opened up opportunities for many people. And I feel like if she wasn’t the first person to go (that) school being a black individual then many people of many different ethnicities wouldn’t have the opportunity (to).”
Today, at 70 years old, Bridges continues to be a civil rights activist. Schools across the state and the country honor her with this day.
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