Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
- Utah will host numerous events to mark Martin Luther King Day on Monday.
- The University of Utah will host a rally and march on its campus while other events will be held at the state Capitol and in Ogden.
- "Dr. King's legacy reminds us of his unwavering commitment to equality, nonviolence and community empowerment," said LeiLoni McLaughlin of the U.
SALT LAKE CITY — Nearly 25 years after Utah leaders formalized the creation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a slew of activities are planned on Monday to mark the day and honor the civil rights icon.
One of the oldest events in Utah to mark King, the MLK March and Rally, organized by the University of Utah as part of MLK Week activities, is set for Monday at 2:30 p.m. This year, the march, in its 41st year, will follow a new route at the university campus, from Kingsbury Hall to the Utah Museum of Fine Arts.
"Dr. King's legacy reminds us of his unwavering commitment to equality, nonviolence and community empowerment. Even today, it continues to inspire us to build inclusive communities," LeiLoni McLaughlin, director of the U.'s Center for Community and Cultural Engagement, said in a university news release. "When we lead with education, openness and understanding, diverse communities can unite in collective action, forging meaningful connections that strengthen our society as a whole."
Speakers at the U. rally and march include Reverend France Davis, pastor emeritus of Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City, and Sydni Shorter, of the Utah Black Chamber, among others.
U. events last all week while several other groups and organizations are also planning activities. Here's a rundown of other things going on in commemoration of the Monday holiday:
- The Ogden Branch of the NAACP is hosting a breakfast starting at 9 a.m. with speakers and a march to begin at 10:30 a.m. Activities commence at Ogden's Union Station with the march ending at the Ogden Amphitheater.
- Brigham Young University's Center for Service and Learning is hosting Martin Luther King Community Outreach Day, providing an opportunity to take part in service activities meant to foster "unity and community." It starts at the university's WSC Garden Court in Provo and goes from 9 a.m. to noon.
- Thanksgiving Point, in Lehi, is hosting a free day of service activity at its Butterfly Biosphere from 9 a.m. to noon, partnering with the Five.12 Foundation to fill food bags for people in need.
- The Salt Lake City Branch of the NAACP is hosting a luncheon, now in its 41st year, to honor King starting at noon at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. The featured speaker will be Amos Guiora, a professor at the U.'s S.J. Quinney College of Law, while Kem C. Gardner, a real estate developer, is to receive the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award. Emma Houston, assistant vice president for community engagement at the U., will receive the Rosa Parks Award.
- The National Park Service will offer free admission at all national parks, including the five in Utah. "It is also a day of service when thousands of volunteers participate in service projects across the country, including at national parks," reads the NPS website.
- Beloved Community is organizing a program starting at 11:30 a.m. in the rotunda of the state Capitol in Salt Lake City followed by a march to the Gateway. Speakers at the program will include Pastor Oscar T. Moses of Calvary Baptist Church, Utah Rep. Melissa Ballard, R-North Salt Lake, and Rep.-elect Verona Mauga, D-Taylorsville.
Cleopatra Balfour, director of Beloved Community, said this year marks the second year it's hosted Martin Luther King Day activities at the state Capitol.
"It's to promote Dr. Martin Luther King's legacy and unite people in the vision of building the beloved community," she said, referencing King's vision of creating a better society by working against poverty, racism and militarism. She sees the day's events as a means of promoting unity among organizations working for the broader "underserved" community, including women, the disabled and the LGBTQ community.
The U. events also include a talk Thursday with a panel of Utah religious leaders. It'll be held starting at noon at Gould Auditorium at the J. Willard Marriott Library on the university campus.
"In addition to being a center of worship, what has been the role in the Black church in the fight for equal rights? Does the Black church of today serve as a space for inspiring and mobilizing its members?" reads a description of the event.
Utah lawmakers in 2000 approved legislation changing Human Rights Day to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, formalizing the holiday in the state as a means of honoring the civil rights activist. It was inked into law in March that year.
