BRIDGEWATER, Va. – On Jan. 19, for the first time since 2023, the weather allowed BC students and community members to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a march through town.
The celebration, “Celebrating the Dream, Continuing the Journey,” was a partnership between the college and the town. It began at 11 a.m. with an address by college president David Bushman and town mayor Ted Flory.
The last time the march occurred was in 2023. Marches in 2024 and 2025 were cancelled due to inclement weather and below-freezing temperatures, although other aspects of the celebration went on as planned, according to local news and BC event pages.
A number of BC students were invited to speak at the gathering before the march. Autumn Sissler and Porter Burrell, Black Student Alliance co-presidents, read a passage of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
Sissler said that she believes King’s legacy is his dream where, “in a sense, we all get along,” a message she believes is still relevant today.
Junior Malachi Benjamin participated in the celebration for the first time. He read an excerpt from “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.”
“This was the most empowering event I think I’ve ever been to here at BC,” Benjamin said.
Benjamin said he felt “so much love” for the community for participating in the march.
“We haven’t done it in so long,” Sissler said, adding that this march was a first for her.
Keon Nesmith, Director of Residential Life & Community Standards, has been a part of the march since its conception in 2019.
“It’s been a little bit since we’ve been able to kind of come together and actually march together, so it means a lot,” Nesmith said.
Nesmith said this event becomes more important and “crucial” every year.
“Despite our differences, we can still come together as a community,” Nesmith said.
Adrianna Hayes, Coordinator for Campus Enrichment and Belonging, who marched two years as a student and marched for the first time as a staff member this year, said she appreciated how the celebration has developed. Hayes said that this year there was more focus on student involvement, evidenced by students reading from King’s work.
Benjamin said he felt “so much love” for the community for participating in the march.
“We haven’t done it in so long,” Sissler said, adding that this march was a first for her.
Keon Nesmith, Director of Residential Life & Community Standards, has been a part of the march since its conception in 2019.
“It’s been a little bit since we’ve been able to kind of come together and actually march together, so it means a lot,” Nesmith said.
Nesmith said this event becomes more important and “crucial” every year.
“Despite our differences, we can still come together as a community,” Nesmith said.
Adrianna Hayes, Coordinator for Campus Enrichment and Belonging, who marched two years as a student and marched for the first time as a staff member this year, said she appreciated how the celebration has developed. Hayes said that this year there was more focus on student involvement, evidenced by students reading from King’s work.
Grace Warren, Director of New Student Experiences and Belonging, marched for the first time, as did many students.
“It was really awesome to get to see both students, the community, people from the town, everyone of all ages coming together to do something as a community,” Warren said.
For many students, this march was a first. For seniors, it was their last as students.
“Being able to experience it one last time means a lot,” senior Toby Lumley said.
Following the march, students and community members were invited to package food for RISE Against Hunger and watch Remember the Titans with BSA. Wednesday, Jan. 21, BC hosted Irshad Manji for an endowed lecture on moral courage.
