PEORIA ( 25News Now ) - Ahead of the Peoria NAACP’s 63rd Annual Freedom Fund Banquet , keynote speaker Donzaleigh Abernathy shared her powerful story and message of education with students in the River City, including those at Annie Jo Gordon Middle School.

Abernathy, an accomplished actor and author, is the daughter of Reverend Doctor Ralph David Abernathy, a pivotal figure in the Civil Rights Movement and close confidant of Martin Luther King Jr. Growing up in Montgomery, Alabama, she experienced the struggle for equality firsthand, marching with her family from a very young age.

During her visit, which included three stops in Peoria, Abernathy emphasized the critical role of education. As a founder of a private independent school in Los Angeles, she passionately conveyed to studen

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