The Colorado State University and Fort Collins communities will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with several events on Monday, Jan. 19. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Free But Shackled: The Cost Of Oppression.”
“It is a very befitting theme based on the recent unfortunate events that have happened across the country,” said Bridgette Johnson, director of the Black/African American Cultural Center on campus. “Many feel limitations have been place upon us causing us to push against unjust boundaries, which leaves us questioning what freedom really means. Freedom, on whose terms and at what cost, when we thought the price of our freedom had already been paid. Unfortunately, breaking through the walls of injustice formed long ago seems to still be the case.”
The MLK Day celebration kicks off at 11 a.m. with the traditional community march from Old Town Square to the Lory Student Center on CSU’s campus.
March route
The route of the one-mile community march will start in Old Town Square and continue south down College Avenue, then west on Laurel Street. The march will proceed through the center of the Oval on Colorado State’s campus, then continue west on Isotope Drive to end at CSU’s Lory Student Center. Free transportation will be available back to the Old Town garage, located on Mountain Avenue near Remington Street.
Celebration events
Immediately following the march, a celebration will commence at 11:45 a.m. in the Lory Student Center Main Ballroom. During the celebration, this year’s poetry and essay contest winners from Poudre School District will read their winning works. Following, there will be a volunteer fair where local organizations will talk with event participants about how to get involved in the Fort Collins community.
Lastly, at 6:45 p.m. Mountain View High School in Loveland will celebrate MLK Day with “The Dream Lives On,” a showcase of the art, music, poetry, essays and performances created by students of all grade levels in the Thompson School District.
“King’s legacy will prevail only if the young understand its relevance to their lives,” said Mim Neal, chair of the Loveland Martin Luther King Committee. “Having them take ownership of the celebration ensures that the dream lives on.”
Click here for a full schedule of events.
