A sea of umbrellas surrounded the Convention Center as two groups of marchers – one from Oak Park, and one from Grant high school – met for a rally to honor the late Martin Luther King, Jr. It was a day of music and celebration - but also an opportunity for education. Phyllis Johnson got her three kids up early to attend:
“I think it’s important to bring them out here because we need to make sure they don’t let the dream die. It’s important to keep the dream going and make sure we’re out here and march in his memory.”
Johnson’s son Cameron took the lesson to heart:
“Since he made a change for all black people, and all people.”
The Johnson family was soaked, like thousands of others, but spirits remained high. After the march, people gathered at the convention center for entertainment and an employment and health services fair.