Students of the Cape Fear walk to school to honor Ruby Bridges

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Dozens of New Hanover County students gathered on Tuesday to walk in honor of Civil Rights Activist, Ruby Bridges. 

“This was very special,” International School at Gregory 6th Grader, Eliana Echeverry, said. 

In November of 1960, six-year-old Bridges was the first African American to attend the whites-only William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana.  

“From that point on, every one of us were able to come to school together and be just like each other,” International School at Gregory Teachers Assistant, Lashawn White, said. 

On Tuesday, students at International School at Gregory in Wilmington decided to pay homage to Bridges by coordinating a “walk to school day.” 

“I was really excited about it. So, I knew I wanted to be helping with it,” Echeverry said. 

Echeverry walked on Tuesday, in hopes she could share the same message that Ruby Bridges shared more than six decades ago.  

“It’s important to know that no matter what race and no matter who you are—you are always welcome and that we are all of the people and that we should be able to live in harmony,” Echeverry said. 

Teacher’s Assistant, Lashawn White, said it was the first time this walk has taken place at International School at Gregory. She said it will certainly not be the last, as it teaches not just the kids but everyone an important lesson.  

“We want to encourage the kids to be brave like Ruby and be better together,” White said. 

The Ruby Bridges movie filmed scenes in Wilmington in 1998 on the same steps students, staff, and parents began their walk at on Tuesday.