©2011 Galesburg Broadcasting Co.
| Winner of King Day Essay Contest Honored |
One Galesburg School District student stood out among all others in speaking about one facet of the civil rights movement.
The Martin Luther King Day Breakfast Monday in Galesburg honored the three winners of the organizing committee's annual Middle School Essay contest. Entrants were this year asked to talk about the Freedom Riders and what their accomplishments were despite their dangerous work.
The winner, Raina Gully, a student at Churchill Junior High School, read part of her essay, which talked in part about how they were able to do what they did despite those inherent dangers.
"I agree that the Freedom Riders had much courage," Gully said. "Even though they went through all the violence, they didn't use violence. They used non-violent resistance. This reminds me of the great Ghandi. He proved that violence isn't the answer, and by following this method, he led his people to freedom and independence, just like the Freedom Riders did."
Gully said there's no telling how long it would have taken to end segregation if the Freedom Riders hadn't filled the busses, and thinks it might still be going on otherwise.
She says it's a perfect example of how non-violent direct action can bring crucial change. Gully called the Freedom Riders her heroes.
KING DAY ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS
1st Place: Raina Gully, Churchill Junior High
2nd Place: Ryan Block, Costa Catholic Academy
3rd Place: Dylan Armstrong, Lombard Middle School
Essay topic: "Discuss why the Freedom Riders began their dangerous work, and discussed what they accomplished." -- Source: King Day Celebration Committee
(Raina Gully reads her winning essay at Monday's Martin Luther King Day Breakfast in Galesburg. Maury Lyon, a member of the King Day Celebration Committee, looks on. WGIL News Story and Photo by Will Stevenson.) |
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| 01 17 12 by Newsroom |
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