The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. Creative Services file photo.
It’s been almost 50 years since the death of Martin Luther King, Jr., but George Mason University’s Michelle M. Allen wants to make sure his legacy lives on with today’s students.
The purpose of the 2018 Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Evening of Reflection is to allow the Mason community to come together to honor the slain Civil Rights leader and contemplate the events of previous days to officially remember King on his birthday.
“It’s an opportunity for our students, faculty and staff to come together to reflect on the events of the week and to remember Dr. King and his legacy,” said Allen, the event’s organizer and the assistant director of programming for the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Multicultural Education, “and where our students can learn tips from what he did to take with them to better help them move our culture forward.”
The event’s keynote speaker will be Wes Bellamy, the Charlottesville city council member who has been outspoken in his strong stand against racism in the wake of the violence that erupted there on Aug. 12, 2017, when three people, including two State Police officers, were killed and dozens injured in the wake of a Unite the Right rally.
In addition to Bellamy’s appearance, the event will feature the Spirit of King Awards recognition honoring students, faculty and staff whose actions within the community best embody King’s spirit.
The event will be from 5-7 p.m. at The Hub on Wednesday, Jan. 24. For more information about commemorative events, visit mlkday.onmason.com