Over two hundred Englewood Elementary students and their teachers stepped out in purple Friday morning, with flags and pom-poms in hand, as they circled their school.

They were one of eleven elementary schools in the Salem-Keizer School District participating in the Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. Some 3,200 students participated in total. 

Ruby Bridges became a defining figure of the Civil Rights Movement when, at just 6 years old, she walked into an all-white elementary school in New Orleans for her first day of class on Nov. 14, 1960. Escorted by U.S. Marshals, her entry was met by a crowd of furious segregationist protesters.

She was the first Black student in the South to integrate a white school. Bridges is now 71. 

The walks honor Ruby Bridges’ contribution to desegregation, and promote anti-racism and anti-bullying in schools. Participants wear purple as part of the celebration. The Salem-Keizer Safe Routes to School program organized the local walks.

This was Englewood’s first year participating. 

Students carried signs and banners, cheered Bridges’ name, shook pom-poms and waved flags as they made their way around the building. Some parents and local politicians also joined the walk.

City Manager Krishna Namburi, City Councilor Paul Tigan, Police Chief Trevor Womack, Salem-Keizer School Board Chair Cynthia Richardson and Superintendent Andrea Castañeda were among the local leaders who attended the Englewood walk. Mayor Julie Hoy visited classrooms before the walk began.

“It was really clear that we needed to do this because we hadn’t yet,” Shamika Cleveland, Englewood’s principal said. “I previously worked with the staff before I became an administrator … so I already knew that they would be great with it because the community here, both within the school and outside of the school, is just so very caring and the want for equity is huge in this community.”

This week, Englewood students and others across the district learned about Bridges in their classes. Lessons included reading from Bridges’ book, “I Am Ruby Bridges,” and discussions about the Civil Rights Movement. They also made signs for the walk during class.

Signs read, “go Ruby,” “be kind” and “brave like Ruby.”

Beth Schmidt, who coordinates the local Safe Routes to School program, said the goal of the walks is to promote kindness and inclusivity among students. 

The walks first emerged in California in 2018 when a group of students wanted to commemorate Bridges’ contributions.

The district’s first walk was held in 2022 at Bush Elementary. Three years later, it has expanded to include Englewood, Highland, Myers, Lee, Washington, Candalaria, Battle Creek, Scott and other elementary schools in Keizer. 

Earlier this year, the Oregon Legislature voted to recognize Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day statewide. State Sen. Deb Patterson, who sponsored that bill, walked with Englewood students Friday.

“It was so much fun, and the kids were so excited. And the pictures they drew – they clearly had learned about Ruby Bridges’ story,” Patterson said of the walk. “It’s always a good time to talk about people of every race and ethnicity and religious background and gender. We need to include everybody, and everybody has the right to good education.”

Students got to hear from Bridges herself during a short assembly before the walk, in a prerecorded video shared by Schmidt. Standing in front of a monument in Oakland, California, which includes a statue of herself, Bridges thanked Oregon for passing the bill and wished students a great Nov. 14.

Have a news tip? Contact reporter Hailey Cook: [email protected] .

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