KCK students asked lawmakers for holiday honoring civil rights icon. Republicans said no
The fourth graders who traveled from Kansas City to Topeka to testify before lawmakers weren’t tall enough to see over the podium, but their teacher brought them a stool to stand on.
“Today, I’m going to be talking about why Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day should be a holiday, a permanent holiday,” said Baraka Ruhumukiza, a student at Frank Rushton Elementary.
His classmate, Ariadne Garcia Montoya, said Bridges was “very brave to go to the school to get her education” and that “kids all over the world would be inspired by her.”
When the fourth graders finished their testimony at last Monday’s House Education Committee meeting, lawmakers clapped for them and said they were brave for coming to share.
Republican members then proceeded to explain why they would not be supporting the proposal to honor Bridges, who as a first grader became the first Black student to attend an all-white school in the South.
“We do have a Black History Month. We have a Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Are we going to do a day for Brown v. Board? A special something on that day?” said Rep. Kyle McNorton, a Topeka Republican.
“Where’s the end? We’re already doing this, and I think we just need to leave it up to the local school boards.”
The bill would not have required school districts to participate in activities celebrating Bridges’ historic walk or educating students on the history of school desegregation.
Rep. Valdenia Winn, a Kansas City Democrat on the education committee who also serves on the Kansas City Kansas school board, said her heart goes out to the students.
“It was so, so disappointing for those little students who had the courage to stand up there and talk about their experiences to these adults, and then to hear them say, ‘Nah, this is not necessary. Maybe wait another ten years,’” Winn said.
‘This is redundant’
The Frank Rushton students participated in recording a video last year inviting Bridges to visit Kansas to honor the 70th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling. That request culminated in more than 1,000 students gathering in Topeka last November to hear the civil rights icon speak.
Gov. Laura Kelly has signed proclamations each of the last two years proclaiming Nov. 14 as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in Kansas.
But the Legislature has not moved to recognize it permanently, as it has for Native American Day, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, Dwight D. Eisenhower Day, General Pulaski Memorial Day and the National Day of the Cowboy.
According to state data, students across seven counties participated in activities related to last year’s Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. The Superintendents of Kansas City Kansas, Blue Valley and Shawnee Mission schools all submitted written testimony in favor of the bill, as did the director of culture and belonging at Olathe schools.
Permanently commemorating Nov. 14 in honor of Bridges would not have cost the state any money, according to the state budget director.
“You don’t have to physically walk to school in November but it can give the students an opportunity to look at curriculum, look at the history, learn about Brown v. Board, learn about Kansas, learn about this nationally recognized icon who is so positive,” Winn said.
Bridges, now 70, was 6 years old when she was escorted to school by U.S. marshals through the streets of New Orleans surrounded by throngs of angry people protesting desegregation.
“I love that we are already recognizing this. I love that we recognized it with a resolution last year. I love that and I think that it’s so important,” said Rep. Rebecca Schmoe, an Ottawa Republican, during the hearing. “I also at the same time feel like this is redundant and it’s just one more thing that we’re adding that is already being done.”
Rep. Mark Schreiber of Emporia was the only Republican on the committee to support advancing the bill favorably. He said Emporia public schools’ participation in last year’s celebration was impactful.
“The feedback from the superintendent and the teachers was overwhelming for me,” Schreiber said. “When I first heard about it, I wasn’t quite sure how it would be implemented with the district, but they embraced it and they’re looking forward to doing it again.”
‘The ongoing fight’
Stacey Knoell, executive director of the Kansas African American Affairs Commission, said Bridges “symbolizes the ongoing fight for racial equality and justice.”
“I am disappointed that the Legislature opposed the commemoration to establish Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day as a permanent day of recognition,” Knoell said in a statement to The Star. “I wish I could say I was surprised. Ms. Bridges herself sees her story not just as telling ‘Black history’ but also sharing about the many individuals of different races who played a role in bringing America to where we are now.”
Grace Hoge, a spokesperson for Kelly, declined to say whether the governor plans to issue proclamations recognizing Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in her remaining two years in office.
“Generally, we issue proclamations on a case-by-case basis upon receiving a request from an organization/group,” Hoge said.
The bill’s rejection comes in the middle of Black History Month as President Donald Trump takes aim at diversity programs nationwide.
“I hope that as we think about questions like these, we realize that there are a lot of people in our communities right now who I think need to hear that they are valued members,” said Rep. Tobias Schlingensiepen, a Topeka Democrat. “And right now they’re not hearing a lot of that on the national scene. Quite the opposite.
“Saying no to this really serves no purpose. Saying yes would serve a great purpose and send a signal to many people.”
This story was originally published February 24, 2025 at 12:05 PM.
