Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative March

Each year the 8th grade students of Manhattan Country School organize and lead a march inspired by the dreams of Martin Luther King Jr. They will speak out about social justice issues such as climate change, police brutality, the lack of equity in New York City schools, and access to health care. The 8th graders help design the route, each stop features two to six speeches from 8th graders. The MCS curriculum challenges students to understand the meaning of equity, activism, and leadership. At the march they have the opportunity to take action. Students put phenomenal effort into their work, and the writing weaves together facts and data from their research, compelling personal narratives from people impacted by the issue, and their own passion for the topic to great effect. Delivering the MLK speech is one of the most significant milestones for MCS students.