WHM: NJ To Celebrate Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day After Resolution Passes
William Frantz Elementary School, New Orleans, 1960. "After a Federal court ordered the desegregation of schools in the South, U.S. Marshals escorted a young Black girl, Ruby Bridges, to school." The photo appears to show Bridges and the Marshals leaving the school. She was escorted both to and from the school while segregationist protests continued. Photo Wikimedia Commons.
AC JosepH Media
WAYNE — Beginning this fall, Nov. 14 will be recognized annually as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in New Jersey.
This special day of recognition for the civil rights icon builds on the efforts of an AAA School Safety Patrol initiative.
In 2018, AAA School Safety Patrollers from Martin Elementary School in South San Francisco, Calif., learned about Ruby Bridges and her brave walk to school as she became one of the first Black children to integrate an all-white school in New Orleans.
With a simple question from one student — “Why isn’t there a day for Ruby?” — Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day was born.
These young leaders founded Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day with the vision of building a nationwide movement and starting a day of dialogue. The event continues to grow — in 2023, over 1,700 schools and groups and more than 600,000 participants walked in recognition of Ruby’s historic steps.
NJ District 35 Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter introduced AJR159, which yesterday (March 18) passed the Assembly with unanimous bipartisan support.
“I’m pleased that the Assembly passed this resolution in honor of Ruby Bridges’s historic steps on Nov. 14, 1960, and I thank my Assembly colleagues for their support,” said Sumter. “I can’t wait to celebrate New Jersey’s first official observance of Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day this November.”
“The AAA Clubs of New Jersey applaud the Assembly in their passage of this resolution,” said Roz Thompson, Outreach Manager for AAA Northeast.
“Students need to be able to make tangible connections to social justice and taking part in the Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day offers an opportunity for civic engagement. Ruby Bridges is an ideal role model and example of the courage required for meaningful change.”
The AAA Clubs of New Jersey — AAA Club Alliance, AAA Northeast and AAA South Jersey — provide automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than two million members through 23 offices across the state. The AAA Clubs of New Jersey are affiliated with AAA, the not-for-profit, fully tax paying federation of automobile clubs, which serves as an advocate for motorists and travelers.
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