South San Francisco, CA November 6, 2023
What started out as a thought in Ms. Carlino’s fifth-grade class at Martin Elementary School is now recognized as an annual day of honor for Ruby Bridges in South San Francisco, San Mateo County, the State of California, and beyond, while work is still being done to see November 14th designated nationwide. Students in Ms Carlino’s class, learning the history of this young girl from the 1960’s felt compelled to see her honored and they worked towards that goal, successfully establishing the annual Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. With empathy, passion, and strong values coupled with one of our best educators leading the way, we can see what our young students are capable of accomplishing.
Please help our students see the next part of their dream realized when Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day is recognized by our US Federal Government. Join in the walk, contact your State reps, and support our kids while they do something bigger than themselves, let’s bring this movement nationwide!
Last year, to the surprise and incredible delight of the students and all those in attendance, Ruby Bridges herself joined in the celebration at Martin Elementary School. What an experience!!
The walk starts at City Hall on Grand Avenue at 7:30 am and continues to Martin Elementary School.
Who is Ruby Bridges?
Ruby Bridges is an American activist who walked to school nearly every day and became a symbol of the civil rights movement at age six when she was the youngest of a group of African American students designated to integrate schools in the American South. On November 14, 1960, her first day of school, she was escorted by four federal marshals, and spent the entire day in the Principal’s office as irate parents marched into the school to remove their children.
Today, Ruby Bridges stands for equality and desegregation. She is currently the chair of the Ruby Bridges Foundation, which she formed in 1999 to promote “the values of tolerance, respect, and appreciation of all differences.” – Ryan Sebers, SSFUSD
