Page 7 - March-2023-FOCUS

lansingchamber.org ECONOMIC CLUB

Civil Rights Activist Donzaleigh Abernathy Tells

Lansing Economic Club: Michigan Must Rise Up to Protect
Racial Justice

onzaleigh Abernathy, “For every good there was a
the youngest daughter retaliation,” said Abernathy.
Dof American Civil Right
Movement Co-Founder Rev. Dr. Abernathy said the Civil Rights
Ralph and Mrs. Juanita Jones Movement was in many
Abernathy told the Lansing respects, traumatic. So much
Economic Club on February 2, so that her sister felt compelled
that Michigan must lead the way to move to Germany where she
and rise up to protect civil rights continues to live. The Civil Rights
gains of the past several decades. era was marked by hatred and
ignorance, something that
“We’ve only been free for 50 continues to this day.
years. We haven’t had the
centuries of freedom that “It is easy to hate,” said
white people have had,” said Abernathy. “We hate because
Abernathy. “We are still rising. we don’t know each other. We
Don’t let them take that away.” don’t know each other because
we don’t talk to each other. We
Abernathy was born in the don’t talk to each other because
midst of the Civil Rights Movement as her father and his we don’t sit together. Imagine if we sat together.”
best friend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. established the
nonviolent social movement which changed the course Abernathy said that Michigan is viewed as a national
of American history. During her presentation, she shared leader and that how Michigan chooses to promote racial
photos and stories from the growth of the Civil Rights justice will be noted, and in many cases followed by
Movement. She described her journey which was a other states.
series of victories offset by setbacks including bombings
of her family home and church. “Hatred kills. Love reins. Love survives,” said Abernathy. l

Chamber Milestones

PNC Bank Horizon Bank Convergence Networks Aspen Lakes
85 Years 20 Years (Formerly ASK) Estates, DTN
15 Years 5 Years
Shaheen Chevrolet, Inc. Kolt Communications, Inc.
40 Years 20 Years Fahey Schultz Burzych DTE Energy
Rhodes PLC 5 Years
Güd Marketing Maurer's Textile 15 Years
35 Years 20 Years Life Insurance Association
Michigan Health & of Michigan
Playmakers Mead & Hunt Hospital Association 5 Years
35 Years 20 Years 15 Years
Williamston
Bekum America Reid Machinery, Inc. Conquest Fitness Compassionate Care
Corporation 20 Years 10 Years 5 Years
25 Years
T.H. Eifert, LLC Eaton Regional Education
RSDC of Michigan Mechanical Contractors Service Agency
25 Years 20 Years 10 Years

We’d like to offer a special salute to these great organizations who reached milestone anniversaries as Lansing
Regional Chamber of Commerce members this month. Thank you for your continued support throughout the years!

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