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‘We all are Americans’ - Rally marks anniversary of ‘March on Washington’

Published September 08. 2020 04:42PM
by DANA GRUBB Special to the Bethlehem Press

Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton branches of the NAACP convened on Bethlehem’s Payrow Plaza Aug. 28 to celebrate and mark the 57th anniversary of the ‘March on Washington,’ at which Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous “I have a dream” speech. The dream is still alive and there is still much to accomplish, according to a number of speakers.

Mayors Ray O’Connell, Bob Donchez and Sal Panto stressed the importance of voting and recommitting to King’s ideals. Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure called King’s speech the “greatest speech of them all” through American history. A representative from Congresswoman Susan Wild’s office reiterated her stance “on the side of justice and equity.”

Donned in a tan suit in honor of former President Barack Obama, Donald Outing, Lehigh University’s vice president for equity and community, said, “America’s eternal pandemic is racism.”

The Reverend Thomas Sweatt of St. James AMEZ in Allentown called current-day protests and actions against racism “a continuation of a movement begun a hundred years ago.”

Participants marched around Bethlehem’s City Center led by Esther Lee, president of the Bethlehem Branch of the NAACP, singing the 1960s anthem, “We Shall Overcome.”

Minister Timothy Smith Jr. added powerfully emotional vocals to the program and the Angelic Angels performed an interpretive dance, all to the music provided by Marcellus Floyd.

Bethlehem City Councilwoman Olga Negron implored “sisters and brothers of color to become part of our system of government” by showing interest in serving on local authorities, boards and commissions and running for office.

“We all are Americans no matter what color or what creed,” summed up Smith.

In addition to remembering the 1963 march on Washington, Quakertown resident Beth McFadden and Bethlehem resident Jodie Fishbein remembered emergency room technician Breonna Taylor, who was shot to death in her apartment last March during a police raid
Marcellus Floyd provided musical backdrop to the celebration event.
Bethlehem Branch of the NAACP President Esther Lee welcomes attendees. The Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton branches of the NAACP sponsored the event.
“We all are Americans no matter what color or creed,” intones Minister Timothy Smith Jr.
Teenagers Zaire Hurdle and Iysis Nickens, residents of Bethlehem, reflect during the invocation.
PRESS PHOTOS BY DANA GRUBB Singing “We Shall Overcome,” Bethlehem NAACP President Esther Lee leads a procession onto Payrow Plaza.
“Vote! It's the most important thing we can do as American citizens,” says Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez.
Allentown Mayor Ray O'Connell urges attendees, “Let's continue to make America a better place for each and every one of us.”
“Let's recommit our-selves to the ‘I have a dream' speech,” says Easton Mayor Sal Panto.
In an emotional speech Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure says, “We cannot all be free until we all can breathe.”
“Racism is in the American dirt and white supremacy is as American as apple pie,” says Lehigh University Vice President for Equity and Community Dr. Donald Outing.
The Angelic Angels peform an interpretive dance to “No Weapons Formed Against Me Shall Prosper.”
Rayah Levy spearheaded the Bethlehem Area Public Library's Black Bethlehem Project. “We have to be an example for the next generation,” Levy said.
Bethlehem City Councilwoman Olga Negron implores attendees and people of color to become part of our system of government. “We need your voices,” Negron said.