Students at Dalton E Tucker Primary will today re-enact a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights movement.

They’ll replicate the March on Washington as they celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr, whose 86th birthday would have been today.

One of the largest political rallies for human rights in the US, the 1963 Washington DC march was where Dr King delivered his historic “I have a Dream” speech.

He was assassinated in 1968.

“This is the 15th anniversary of Dalton E Tucker’s re-enactment of Martin Luther King Jr’s March on Washington,” said deputy principal Shanda Simmons. “What happens is they walk from our school to MaxiMart and sing songs from the Civil Rights era.

“Prior to that the children do lessons on Martin Luther King Jr and the Civil Rights movement and we also try to make a connection for them [between that and] Bermuda.”

This year the students were split into two groups — red and blue. Red students were treated one way; blue another.

“The idea was to help them understand what it meant to be segregated,” Ms Simmons explained.

Members of the Progressive Group that battled segregation in Bermuda in the 1950s and staged the landmark Theatre Boycotts in 1959, have spoken to the students for the past two years. Marva Phillips spoke at an assembly on Monday.

“Dream” speeches written by the students showed that the message got through. They’ll share their hopes with Governor George Fergusson and Junior Education Minister Leah Scott at an assembly later this morning.

Here are excerpts from those speeches:

Ameina Covington, 10

I have a dream that men and women no matter what race acknowledge the prestige of the African culture. That our real history is not watered down in textbooks but printed boldly across the lands that we helped to build. I have a dream that it become inherently obvious that all races are people that need each other to survive.

I have a dream that black girls accept and love themselves, their darker skin and wavy hair and do not give in to society’s version of beauty. I believe in our quest to be equal we have lost our identity so I have a dream that we affirm the need to have opportunities, but also the necessity to be proud of being black. Bermuda struggles with a racial divide that is not easily fixed. We have experience on some level the same injustices that those of African descent have experienced around the world. Politically, it appears that Bermuda is in a spiral of racism but mostly among adults. I have a dream that adults would be more like us.

Abigail Frost, 10

I have a dream that violence will no longer be in the world, I have a dream that guns and other weapons will not have to be used as a self-defense use, and weapons will not be purchased ever for anything. People will not even make them anymore. You only live once, live without the violence.

Ariadne Ward, 10

I see a place in the future where not one person is scared or unhappy; in that place I see laughter and smiles. I see a place of future; I see a place called Bermuda. I hope to have peace that my grandchildren and theirs will not have abandoned DREAMs, that they will not be abused and I have a dream that no one will be left alone against an army at battle.

Kézjah Weeks, 9

I have a dream that this nation will have blue skies and dark clouds joining together as one. I have dream that one day the violence will end. I have a dream that one day like a puzzle if the pieces are broken they can be put together. I have a dream that the world will come together as one. I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day high mountains and low mountains will sit down to victory. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day people will have faith and hope. This is my hope and faith. With this faith we will be able to join hands and be the best we can be. This will be the day when the world is a shiny beautiful light with great hope

Kyla Philpott, 9

I have a dream that one day the mess of Bermuda will cease and the love will rise.

I have a dream that someday the loitering would end and everybody would become a friend.

I have a dream that one day all criminals will come together with the great people of the world and join hands.

This is my hope and faith. With this faith we will be able to STRIVE, GROW and SUCCEED with faith and trust of people.