Stand For Children Rally Saturday

Marian Wright Edelman wants this week’s Stand for Children rally to do for America’s children what a 1963 march did for civil rights and what Earth Day did for the environment.

More than 3,000 organizations are joining the Children’s Defense Fund, founded by Edelman, in sponsoring the rally Saturday at the Lincoln Memorial. It’s coming not a moment too soon, she says.

Every 32 seconds, somewhere in the United States, a child is born into poverty, according to statistics gathered by the fund. Every 15 minutes a baby dies and gunfire claims a youngster’s life every two hours.

The rally will feature activities for children and families, including music and dance, reading circles, singalongs and exhibits. Organizers say politicians are welcome to attend, but they will not be speaking.

A highlight will be a children’s march to the Lincoln Memorial, orchestrated to encourage a deeper public commitment to protecting the nation’s youth.