A trailblazing educator, a union stalwart and a peace group were honoured for their service at City Hall yesterday.

Activist Glenn Fubler said Martin Luther King Jr Day, a federal holiday in the United States, was an “opportunity to reflect on the global implications of the legacy of the icon that Dr King was”.

He added: “In this regard, we will be highlighting three local honourees, thinking locally and globally.”

Lynne Winfield, former head of Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda, paid tribute to the first honouree, the late educator Edwin Skinner.

Mr Skinner began teaching Black students at his home on Watlington Road after retiring as head of the then White-only Cavendish School.

Skinner’s School moved to Jubilee Road, home of the original Elliot Primary, and was renamed Howard Academy, but shut its doors in 1965.

Ms Winfield explained: “As a White man, Mr Skinner was ostracised and heavily criticised for educating Blacks, and experienced the social isolation and exclusion that came from challenging racial barriers.

“He persevered with the Howard Academy project, exemplifying a solidarity which benefited scores of Black students, up to his sudden death in 1951.”

Ms Winfield added: “Mr Skinner’s humanity reflects the same spirit and courage that inspired the likes of Martin Luther King”.

She gave a certificate to members of Mr Skinner’s family.

Helena “Molly” Burgess, former general secretary of the Bermuda Industrial Union, was also recognised.

Ms Burgess was the chief shop steward at the Elbow Beach Hotel, where she began working in the 1950s, before being elected secretary of the union’s hospitality division, BIU assistant secretary and general secretary in 1983.

Ms Burgess, who retired from that position in 2023, said: “Once you’re in the union, it gets in your blood. Every day is a different story.

“When you saw the injustices going on with people, you can’t just walk away, you have to keep it going to try and make things better for those that are coming.

“I stood on the shoulders of some great men and women and I hope people can now stand on my shoulders and keep it going further.”

Students from Saltus Grammar School, Warwick Academy, Somersfield Academy and the Pauulu Heritage Institute — named after national hero Pauulu Kamerafego — attended the event, which also honoured the Peace Collective.

Mr Fubler said the group, which was formed by residents after the Israel-Hamas War began in October 2023, embodied the spirit of Dr King by organising events that raised awareness about the conflict and called for ceasefire.

He explained: “It’s that same spirit that we are encouraging our young people to reflect on.

“On behalf of the people of Bermuda, we would like to give this certificate to Peace Collective.”

Students who reflect on Dr King’s speech Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break the Silencecan win bursaries and other awards.

Dr King delivered the speech at Riverside Baptist Church in New York on April 4, 1967, exactly one year before he was killed.

Mr Fubler explained: “Life is always an opportunity for learning and if all this is going on in our world, then we need to encourage our young people.

“The Department of Education is on board with this and we will be reaching out to other schools in the private sector and that [competition] will be coming online within the next two weeks.”