Marchers head to the Federated Church in Hyannis for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. memorial service.
HYANNIS – “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Will you put down your guns, people? C’mon, why are you waiting?” exclaimed George O’Connor, mirroring Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words at the Annual Service of Commemoration in his name Sunday.
O’Connor and his fellow third graders from teacher Mrs. Duran’s Hyannis West Elementary school classroom gave speeches based on essays they composed after learning about Dr. King in their curriculum.
Many of those orations echoed the urgency of King’s message for justice and equality, a message which is celebrated nationwide on the 18th of January.
Attendees let out exclamations of excitement, pride and awe at the words of these young speakers. President of Cape Cod Community College Dr. John Cox followed the students with similar words of urgency and action.
“Let us go out and work with renewed vigor to make the unfolding work of destiny a reality in our generation,” Cox said, quoting King. “Indeed the work of destiny must not be slowed, and as you saw today I don’t think it’s slowing down, I think it’s speeding up.”
The commemoration was also full of musical accompaniment, with performances from the Barnstable High School Chamber Choir and Mashpee Baptist Church Choir.
The Cape Cod Branch of the NAACP fundraised for scholarships in association with the Cape Cod Council of Churches. Those funds will benefit local community members of color seeking higher education, according to Cape Cod NAACP President Scoba Rhodes.
By ADAM FORZIATI, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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