Schools

Former Ladue Student Leads Civil Rights Event

John Gaskin, III., 2011 graduate of Ladue is chairman of the Rosa Parks celebration at New Horizons Chuch.

John Gaskin, III., football player and a 2011 graduate of Ladue High School is thinking about  career in public service or politics.

A student at Benedictine College, Atchison, KS., he is putting his skills to good use. Gaskin was the chairperson of the annual Rosa Parks observance day celebration at New Horizons Church February 26 in Bel Ridge.

Gaskin lined up a luminary list of guest speakers to promote awareness of Rosa Parks, the political activists and Civil Rights leader of the 1950s. Gaskin is eager to have Missourians learn much more about her limitless contributions to the Civil Rights movement.

U.S. Congressmen Russ Carnahan-D and U.S. Congressman Lacy Clay-D gave brief remarks as well as County Executive Charlie Dooley. The guest speaker was the Honorable Judge George Draper, III, a member of the Missouri Supreme Court. The prayer was offered by prominent St. Louis minister B.T. Rice, pastor of New Horizon's Church.

John’s mother, Angela Haywood-Gaskin, Spanish teacher at Ladue Horton Watkins sang a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.

Music was provided the Harris-Stowe Stowe University gospel chorus.

Ladue students took part in the ceremonies. The modern and jazz dancers presented interpretive dance as a tribute to the late Rosa Parks.

The event concluded with a discussion of human rights, led by Ester Haywood, President of the St. Louis County branch of the NAACP.

John Gaskin is a member of the National NAACP Youth Work Committee and was a student leader at Ladue High in many different areas.


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