Washington State Civil Rights Activists Join Civil Rights Pilgrimage

Washington State Civil Rights activist Karen Bohlke will participate in the Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage March 6-8 representing the Institute for Community Leadership (ICL). The Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage created and hosted by Congressman John Lewis of Atlanta, Georgia, offers members of the U.S. Congress a link to the history and sacrifices of the Civil Rights movement and an opportunity to reflect on ways to carry forward the struggle for civil rights.
Ms. Bohlke was selected to participate as a non-congressional member by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, D-Calif. The selection of Bohlke and ICL by Congresswoman Lee is the latest recognition of the efforts of ICL staff and students to spotlight the struggle for peace and a stronger democracy. ICL students are working actively to close the academic gap in public schools based on race and economic station. The students also carry out campaigns for voter education and registration and mobilize youth and adults for environmental clean up and salmon habitat restoration. ICL, as part of its program to confront racism and violence, is involved in struggles to transform public education in the face of economic crises and to ensure all have access to the promise of excellent education.
Bohlke, Director of Community and Governmental Relations for ICL, will take two high school students who are part of ICL's nonviolence work in Oakland, CA. on the pilgrimage. ICL provides programmatic support for the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center, ICL's sister organization in the San Francisco Bay Area. Bohlke and the students join over 35 members of the U.S. Congress for the pilgrimage which takes place in the State of Alabama.
The Institute for Community Leadership serves communities throughout the State of Washington preparing youth ambassadors to apply nonviolence leadership in fostering peace, constructing community and strengthening democracy. For more information, visit www.ICLeadership.org.