Rev. Jesse Jackson organized a bus trip for people of all ages to Memphis where he stood with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a half-century ago.
Generations young and old united to embark on a journey Monday night to honor King’s legacy on the 50th anniversary of his assassination.
"To me it means everything, because he helped so many people do everything in the hard times and I feel like he helped me in a way,” fourth-grader Va’cyah Glenn said.
The trip serves as a real life history lesson for students who will walk in King’s footsteps.
“I wanted to come down here and learn more about it because I feel like schools don’t go into it enough," said 7th grader Jarviel Glenn.
Also on the trip were students from King College Prep, the South Side high school named in honor of the civil rights hero.
They’re joined by those who were inspired by King to march 50 years ago.
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“It was scary because there was a lot of resistance," said Elizabeth Whittaker, who marched with King. "There were people with guns and knives."
She’s joining her daughter, a University of Chicago law student, who asked to go on the trip.
"This is a perfect opportunity to relive some of our history and what that means to me to help me find my passion and my purpose,” Subria Whittaker said.
Mickey Warren, who marched alongside King, said the trip is about paying it forward.
“His generation, the same issues we had in 1968, are still relevant today,” he said.
The group will tour the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis and join in Wednesday's ceremonies remembering King’s life and dream.
