Human Rights Day to be celebrated at USU
Martin Luther King Jr. Day offers American’s the opportunity to pause and remember a leader who stood for the fundamental principles of freedom and equality for all mankind.
According to www.seattletimes. nwsource.com/mlk/, in November of 1983 President Ronald Reagan signed legislation making King’s birthday a national holiday to be celebrated every third Monday in January. The first time this occurred was in 1986 – nearly two decades after he was assassinated.
“It’s very important to take a day to recognize all the achievements and contributions which were made by this man,” said Everado Martinez, director of Multicultural Student Affairs. “His vision has touched the lives of every American today. And it’s good to know that.”
King’s most recognized achievements and contributions came in his struggle to help others understand human rights and his fight to make them available to every individual.
In “Letter from Birmingham Jail” King wrote, “Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It is an historical fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily.”
King later said in his address at the march on Washington, “When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of The Constitution and The Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned.”
“I admire him a lot for the sacrifices he made to better our lives today,” Katie Shaler, a junior in special education, said.
Tiffany Leo, a junior in environmental engineering, said, “When I think of him I think of courage. He wasn’t afraid to speak what needed to be said.”
Johnathan Abebe, a junior in computer science and president of the Black Student Union, said BSU has organized their annual candlelight vigil in honor and respect for King and those who have suffered and died for human rights.
“It’s more about teaching people about African American culture and American history,” he said.
The highlight speaker of this event will be Iris Sanchez, a USU freshman who was directly involved in the human rights movement.
Martine Celestin, a junior in social work, said, “Many have contributed to the availability of the rights we enjoy today. It seems only natural to take time out to give our thanks by remembering them.”
In his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, King spoke of the many people fighting for human rights, “Most of these people will never make the headlines, and their names will not appear in Who’s Who. Yet when years have tolled past and when the blazing light of truth is focused on this marvelous age in which we live-men and women will know and children will be taught that we have a finer land, a better people, a more noble civilization-because these humble children of God were willing to suffer for righteousness’ sake.”
Nick Renfro, a senior in psychology, said, “As an African American I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for him. What he did was monumental for blacks as well as other minorities.”
A candlelight vigil will be held on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Sunburst Lounge. For more information call 797-1733.