At AU's 60th Peace and Justice March, participants in first event reflect on civil rights progress

Yahoo

19-03-2025

ANDERSON — In April 1968, Carl Kramer was a senior at Anderson University when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. He remembers comforting a fellow student who was sobbing with grief after she heard the news.
'She said, 'Dr. King has been shot,'' Kramer recalled. 'I just took my arms around her and she cried on my shoulder. I had never felt so helpless in my life.
'It was…a reflection of what was going on across the country,' he continued. 'Now we are finding ourselves in the same situation where people are trying to deprive people of their voting rights.'
Kramer recounted his experience after participating in the university's Peace and Justice March Tuesday morning. The one-mile walk from Reardon Auditorum to Dickmann Town Center took place 60 years after Kramer, Jacquie Sellers-Womack and Connie Hippensteel participated in the inaugural march in 1965. The trio was recognized during a brief ceremony at the conclusion of the march.
Kramer said that first march had a significant impact on him.
'It was a very meaningful experience, I think, for me and the other students and probably the faculty and staff because of the tension that existed in the country,' Kramer said. 'For a lot of us, it was a real commitment. I think it was really a pivotal moment in my life. Looking back, it set me on the trajectory that I have as far as advocating for racial justice.'
Tuesday's march was held at the same time chapel would normally be held, so students would be able to attend and not have to miss class. Organizers estimated more than 100 people participated. Martin said he was thankful for that number.
'I thought it was a great turnout,' Martin said. 'It was an optional thing for students to come to. We did it during the time we knew they would be available to come, but for that many students and faculty and staff to participate, it was just a great turnout.'
Martin said he wanted his students to realize that the march looked and felt different 60 years ago.
'I was talking to some of my students, and I said, 'You know, 60 years ago when they did this, I don't think they were all smiling and having fun like we are right now,'' Martin said. 'There was a lot of tension back then. There were a lot of people not wanting them to do it from all different aspects.'
Korey Rees, a senior at AU and the president of the Student Government Association, said the milestone anniversary of the march is significant.
'It makes the history of the Civil Rights Movement feel much more alive to me,' Rees said. 'Recognizing there are people in my community who, over the course of their lifetime, have seen the civil rights movement come to fruition and enact change in our culture, I think is really amazing.
'It serves as a good reminder to me that there are always important issues going on that are worth paying attention to and standing up for.'
Antwone Whiteside, a senior at AU and the president of the Black Student Association, said the experience of participating inspired him.
'It felt amazing to participate in the march today to show appreciation for the ones who came before me,' Whiteside said. 'Seeing all the flags marching together was very impactful and inspiring for the next generation.'
During the ceremony, Martin held an American flag that was hanging at the Capitol building when King was assassinated. The flag was donated to AU by an alumnus.
Kramer said it is up to the current generation to move forward with obtaining justice.
'I hope people come away from this reinvigorated to carry on the work,' he said. 'There is so much going on today that is very similar to what we marched about 60 years ago. It is a warning that the battle for justice is never completely won and has to continue with this new generation to carry it on.'