Civil Rights Leader Diane Nash to Speak at Glastonbury's 12th Annual MLK Celebration

Renowned civil rights leader Diane Nash will speak at the 12th Annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration on Monday.

The annual MLK Day celebration will take place at 7 p.m. at Smith Middle School, 216 Addison Road, and features Nash as the keynote speaker. Nash will be introduced by I. Charles Matthews, Esq., the Glastonbury High School Madrigal Singers directed by Dr. Ethan Nash, and Windsor High School’s Gospel Choir directed by Tracee White.

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Diane Nash is known for her leadership in the nonviolent movement to desegregate Nashville, Tenn., through lunch-counter sit-ins, the Freedom Rides that desegregated interstate travel and her work in the Selma right-to-vote movement that helped influence the passage of the Civil Rights Act, according to the Glastonbury Martin Luther King Community Initiative.

Nash has won numerous awards, including the Negro Women Freedom Fighters in 1963, Distinguished American Award in 2003 and the National Freedom Award in 2008.

During Monday’s celebration, Nash will share her experiences and address the topic “The Nonviolent Movement of the 1960’s Holds Lessons for Today.”

The event is free and open to the public thanks to support from First Niagara Bank, The George H.C. Ensworth Foundation, Town of Glastonbury and numerous other local organizations, businesses and individuals.

The Glastonbury Martin Luther King Community Initiative is also encouraging attendees to bring non-perishable donations to benefit area food pantries.

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