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WARREN -- Children as young as 4 in the 1950s and 1960s took to the streets to protest with their parents for civil rights and other freedoms led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Children who attended a special three-hour youth camp Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day learned that they also can make a difference by what they do today.
Pastor Todd Johnson of Second Baptist Church in Warren said there was discussion last year by Warren Forward to host a workshop and fun day for children on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Warren Forward spearheaded the event in 2023 because the organization wanted to host an event specifically for the youth since not much was able to take place since the pandemic in 2020.
Johnson said there already were other events for adults at local churches, so it was decided in 2023 to host an event for youth with King-themed activities.
"We want to show the children the power of protest.and collaborative action in working together with others to make change," Johnson said.
He said there also was discussion on the power of media and how the positive and negative images in media can be used to further causes,
''We want the children to provide their input on what they feel it means to live out Dr King's dream. It is a great engagement to get the children here on their day off from school and talk at their level how they can live out Dr. King's dream," Johnson said.
Johnson said the children learned that they can make a difference and improve their community, home or school.
"You can continue to shine Dr. King's light and continue that dream," he told them.
The more than 20 third-to-sixth graders who attended took part in hands-on activities that dealt with how King fought for civil rights. The children were split into an older age group and a younger age group.
The younger children watched a video that showed children ages 4 to 18 protesting peacefully with their families and King in the 1960s.
Dr. Alisha Alls, who coordinated the program for the younger children, said participants would pick which foods they wanted to see in school and then made a poster to serve as a picket sign.
"They learned what it meant to take a side or stand for something and how working together with others makes that a reality. I want them to see that today they have the power to make change," Johnson said. "Children need to see that they are not too young to stand up and make a difference for something they care about."
Alls said in May 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama, children marched along with their parents in the Birmingham Children's Crusade during which children and their parents were sprayed with water or were attacked by police dogs.
"The adults were concerned for the children's safety and some did not want them to protest at all. The children wanted to be part of making a difference in Birmingham and across the nation," she said.
Ethan Johnson, 9, of Warren, said from watching the video and listening to the program, he learned that children have the ability to make a difference.
"I saw how children risked their own lives to bring about change," he said.
Autumn Alls, 10, of Warren, said she learned that people can follow their dreams like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.