Penn State campuses across the state are holding celebrations throughout the week in honor of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Penn State University Park will be holding a week of service, food drives and a virtual keynote speaker.
LaTosha Brown will be the guest speaker at 7 p.m. on Thurs., Jan. 20. She is the co-founder of the voting rights group “Black Votes Matter.” The group is best known for its work in the 2017 Alabama U.S. Senate Race, where 29% of voters were Black and 96% of them voted for Democrat Doug Jones over Republican Roy Moore.
Other Penn State locations will have their own guest speakers like George Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s daughter, Bernice King.
Some students are looking forward to celebrating the holiday because it gives them a chance to celebrate everything King fought for.
With the growing coronavirus positivity rates, some of the events will be held virtually, while others will allow in-person guests.
“I think health is a top priority,” said Jayla Hamlin, an African-American Penn State student. “[I] believe that in the current state of the pandemic, virtual celebrations can allow us to recognize MLK and contribute to our communities while still being safe.”
Penn State DuBois, Beaver, World Campus and Altoona are some of the other campuses holding celebrations. Due to poor weather and coronavirus scares, some events have been canceled or postponed. For more information on how to attend these events, visit the Penn State website.
