Today, city officials and police officers joined students from local schools to celebrate Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day.
The annual event commemorates the heroism of Ruby Bridges, who became a national icon for the civil rights movement at age 6 when she integrated into William Franz Elementary School in New Orleans. Her act of showing up for school each day played an important role in the movement for equality.
To honor her, schools around the Bay Area participated in Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. The first such event was held in 2018. In 2020, it grew to a national event, and in 2021, the California State Senate passed a resolution declaring Nov. 14 as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in California.
In Richmond, students from King School and Michelle Obama Elementary were among schools participating in walks. The San Pablo Police Department joined St. Paul Catholic School students in their walk.
“Today her story continues to inspire the next generation of leaders to end racism together one step at a time,” San Pablo police said.
