50 Years of ‘I Have a Dream’

This story was written and reported by Concord NH Patch Editor Tony Schinella

The Statehouse Plaza in Concord was filled with bells ringing, enlightened words, and singing as people from all walks of life came together to highlight the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

Margaret Fogarty of the American Friends Service Committee spoke about the importance of the historic speech, march, and movement, because it confronted some of the nation’s most difficult problems with a nonviolent approach.

“All over the country today, and at this very moment, communities are ringing their bells and reading these immortal words of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King,” she said, “so that we can re-dedicate ourselves to the ongoing work for justice and dignity.”

Gov. Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, read a proclamation, using many of the words from the speech, and participated in the reading of the speech.

“What we do is we, generation to generation, bring people in from the margins, into the heart and soul of our democracy and our communities,” she said, “and, in each generation as we have done that, we have grown stronger. So that’s what, more than anything, this day is about to me … we were imperfect in our beginning, we continue to be imperfect, but we are making progress.”

A number of people, including clergy, children, and all kinds of ethnicities, ages, and disabilities, one at a time, stepped to the podium and read a portion of the speech. At the end, Fogarty motioned others in attendance, around 100 people, to participate in the reading of the “let freedom ring” section of the speech, and later, sang “We Shall Overcome,” to close the event.