Preparation underway for Human Rights Walk and Festival

Local Girl Scout Demme Durrett is organizing the Human Rights Walk and Festival in The Woodlands for Saturday, Dec. 8.

The 15-year-old John Cooper School sophomore has been involved in the Girl Scouts for 11 years and earned the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award for her work in human rights education.

"Believe it or not, human rights need to be learned and applied more readily, as there are many violations of our basic rights going on right now in our own city, throughout the U.S., and of course, internationally," said Durrett. "People need to be aware that they have 30 natural-born human rights."

After the success of last year's Human Rights Walk, Durrett decided to continue her mission with another event this year. Houston Mayor Anise Parker even honored Durrett with an official proclamation earlier this year, designating Saturday, Dec. 8 as Human Rights Walk and Festival Day.

"People that come to the event this year will be really inspired, and will have a lot of fun, too," said Durrett. "They will be empowered and will get a sense of helping make a difference in the world, while having a great time. In addition to all the great music, fair trade shopping, bouncy houses and education we had last year, this year we are adding even more great things such as a pet walk, an art and essay contest, gourmet food trucks and several more surprises."

The walk is part of a larger International Walk for Human Rights event, a world-wide awareness campaign petitioning for an international Declaration of Human Rights. Durrett said she is looking to collect 2,000 signatures.

"In general, our community isn't as informed as we should be, and this event helps remedy that," said Durrett. "Also, people in our community interact with people from all over the world, on a regular basis. So, it is important that we get the message out to people in our own town, but also in the countries where serious Human Rights violations are even more prevalent."

The Human Rights Walk and Festival will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information and registration, visit humanrightswalk.org.