District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) Chancellor Kaya Henderson issued the following statement today commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education landmark Supreme Court case.

“Today, we recognize a critical milestone in our nation’s history. Brown vs. Board of Education declared to everyone, in every part of this country, of all colors and all classes, that equality is our greatest right, but one that does not always come easily. It took the voices of the few speaking up and refusing anything less than what they absolutely deserve. The families, including those from the District of Columbia,  who refused to be silent in the face of discrimination, who refused to be considered less than their peers, and who knew that when the fight gets hard, you work even harder, paved a path forward for so many of us. In some ways, we are still fighting the same fight. Everything I do as Chancellor of DCPS is about ensuring ALL students in ALL parts of this city attend schools that help them learn, grow and thrive. The power of equality is the basic understanding that we all have purpose and we all are deserving. It’s a day for reflection, for gratitude and for reminding ourselves of the urgency for change and for demanding a great education for every single child in this country.”