March on Washington celebration gets emotional at Constitution Center [photos]

    The National Constitution Center celebrated the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington with a stirring performance by singer Alexis P. Suter. The blues/soul singer belted out songs of the civil rights era in a way that moved some audience members to tears.

    Suter even moved herself to tears as she sang “Let It Be.” The play list also included “How I Got Over,” “None of Us Are Free,” “If I had a Hammer” and “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”

    After Suter’s performance, a group of 13 young local actors and students took the stage for a dramatic reading of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

    “That was beautiful. I’m trying not to cry,” said Louisa Shafia, a visitor from Brooklyn. Shafia brought her niece and nephew to the event, hoping to open their eyes to the way things were.

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    “Things have changed so much since the march,” she said. “It’s a good thing for them to learn about.”

     

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