On the 57th anniversary of her grandfather’s historic “I Have A Dream” speech at the March on Washington, Yolanda Renee King — the civil rights leader’s granddaughter — gave her own impassioned speech at the Lincoln Memorial Friday.
She’s only 12 years old.
And like her grandfather, the young King eloquently urged a new generation — her own — to continue peaceful demonstrations against endemic racism.
“My generation has already taken to the streets — peacefully and with masks and social distancing — to protest racism,” she said.
“And I want to ask the young people here to join me in pledging that we have only just begun to fight, and that we will be the generation that moves from me to we.”
King was one of dozens of speakers who addressed the “Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks” event.
The ongoing national crises — a pandemic, unemployment, and racial injustice — will make today’s children stronger, she promised.
Yolanda Renee King, granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr.AP“Great challenges produce great generations,” she said.
“We have mastered the selfie and TikTok … Now we must master ourselves.”
She poignantly invoked The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., vowing, “Papa King, we won’t forget!”
