Watertown Honors Legacy of Civil Rights Leader Bernard Lafayette Jr.

Community members gathered at the Watertown Free Public Library on June 28 to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr., a pioneering civil rights leader whose teachings on nonviolence have had a lasting impact on the Watertown community.

About two dozen residents attended the remembrance event, which featured personal reflections, civil rights songs, archival video of Lafayette's visits to Watertown, and discussions centered on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s six principles of Kingian nonviolence.

Lafayette, who died in March at the age of 85, was a Freedom Rider, a founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), a key organizer of the Selma voting rights campaign, and a close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Following King's assassination in 1968, Lafayette dedicated his life to teaching nonviolence around the world.

His connection to Watertown began in 2016, when educator Ruth Henry invited him to speak with students, police officers, and local leaders. Lafayette returned later that year to lead a two-week Kingian Nonviolence Trainers Institute, certifying students, educators, police officers, and community members to teach the principles of nonviolence. He later returned in 2018 for the dedication of the Kingian Nonviolence mural at Saltonstall Park.

Organizers said those visits helped establish Watertown as a model for community-based nonviolence education, with Kingian training expanding into local schools, community organizations, and the Police Department.

The June 28 gathering also gave attendees an opportunity to reflect on how Lafayette's teachings continue to guide their work today. Participants discussed the six principles of Kingian nonviolence, shared personal stories of Lafayette's influence, and emphasized the importance of carrying his legacy forward for future generations.

The event concluded with attendees joining together to sing civil rights anthems, including "We Shall Overcome," reaffirming their commitment to the vision of the "Beloved Community" that Lafayette spent his life promoting.