Sussex Academy students give speeches about civil rights leaders

Sixth-graders at Sussex Academy took part in a class initiative to write speeches about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or a related topic from the Civil Rights movement.

The speeches are part of a project from social studies teacher Jon English. The students picked the top speeches; those chosen got to present their speeches to family and fellow sixth-graders at an assembly Feb. 19. 

Topics of the speeches included the Montgomery bus boycott, John Lewis, why the country has a holiday in Dr. King’s honor, the March on Washington and the Birmingham Children’s Crusade.

Twelve speakers took part in the assembly: Ella Muldrow, Giuliana DiMeglio, Patrick Keller, Diego Chaplin, Makayla Proudfoot, Bailey Passwaters, Anthony Mariotti, Levon Culver, Callie Joseph, Jonathan Dutton, Lulu Perez-Perez and Gail Gaston.