Students connect at Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in Eugene and Springfield

Hundreds of students turned out Tuesday for Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in Eugene and Springfield, recognizing the 6-year-old who attended an all-white school as a young Black girl in 1960.

Nov. 14 marked the 63rd anniversary of Bridges' own walk to her elementary school, more than a decade after the Brown v. Board of Education U.S. Supreme Court decision, which ruled that separating students in schools based on race was unconstitutional. Many southern states still maintained segregated schools.

Students across Springfield Public Schools, Bethel School District and Eugene School District 4J held organized walks. The first Ruby Bridges Walk was in 2018 in California.

Bethel students gathered early Tuesday at Peterson Park, checking out Ruby Bridges-themed T-shirts, pins, bracelets and more. Several students put on bright yellow Ruby Bridges beanies to get in the spirit. Over 100 people gathered at the park, including students and parents from both Bethel schools and City First Christian Academy.

"Ruby Bridges is a living civil rights activist — I say living because it's so important for us to have a timeline and understand that she's still alive and breathing today," said Kodjo Wilder, assistant principal at Cascade Middle School, who gave a speech at the Bethel gathering. "Sometimes when we see black-and-white pictures, we think racism and discrimination are something of the past."

Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day allows students of all ages to learn about Bridges' courage and ask questions about the Civil Right Movement.

Aida Ghukasyan, an exchange student at Willamette High from Armenia, only recently learned about Ruby Bridges after her host mom told her about the event. She decided to go to learn more about Bridges and the significance of her actions.

"It's actually a very brave act to do and to be the first person, she's really great example," Ghukasyan said. "I think it's a good way to remember and for people to know how far we've come."

State Sen. James Manning, D-Eugene, spoke to students, reminding them that there is "no place for hate." It was his first Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, and he said he wanted to make it a priority to attend in the future.

"It exceeded my expectations," Manning said. "At her (Bridges') age, to go into angry mobs and all kinds of things. She was a little girl, and yet she still went through it, and she's still standing."

The Bethel event kicked off around 7:20 a.m. Tuesday. Dozens of Malabon Elementary students gathered in the cold, but the weather didn't dampen the mood.

Students buzzed around excitedly all morning, reuniting with friends and meeting students from other schools. Wilder encouraged students to talk to at least one new person.

Tutrey Dodson, a senior at Willamette High, came by the request of teachers to help guide Fairfield Elementary students on their walk to school. He said he was surprised by the large turnout. It was his first time at a Ruby Bridges Walk to School event.

"It helps them connect with our history," Dodson said about young students. "It shows you how one person can make a difference by just showing up."

Overall, staff and volunteers considered the walk a success.

Susie Hammond, co-founder of the local nonprofit Rooted In Blackness and former Bethel social worker, has participated in the Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day for the past three years. She said this may be their biggest turnout yet.

"Every is going to be different, but we're hoping that … every year is better than the last," Hammond said. "I think it went really well, I think it showed … growth and inspiration. I think for me, Ruby Bridges means a lot, especially for our students of color, and to see not just our students of color, but beyond that is amazing."

Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on Twitter @mirandabcyr

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day draws Lane County students