Penn State to Hold Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Week Events

Penn State 32nd annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration week will kick off Monday, paying homage to King’s accomplishments and legacy. This year’s theme honors King’s bravery in speaking up against discrimination with the slogan “When Silence Becomes Betrayal.”

The MLK Jr. Day of Service will begin at 8:30 a.m. Monday in the HUB-Robeson Center’s Alumni Hall. All volunteers will be dispersed to sites throughout the local community and given free food and a T-shirt for service. Registration to participate in the day of service is available here.

There also will be hourly presentations of the documentary “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: A Historical Perspective”
in Foster Auditorium, E102 Paterno Library beginning at 10 a.m.

Other events throughout the week include:

• Writing Letters to Prisoners in the HUB, 1st floor on Jan. 17, 18, 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students are invited to come discuss a time they spoke out against injustice and write letters.
• Silence Interrupted–A Talent Showcase & Social Justice Reception in the HUB’s Heritage Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 17 from 6-8 p.m. The event focuses on the forgotten stories of the LGBTQ community and women.
• Community Showcase in the HUB’s Heritage Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 18 from 5:30-7 p.m. State College elementary, middle, and high school students will share their interpretation of King’s impact through poetry, art, and essays. Following these presentations, Tom Houck, a former aide to King, will speak in the Foster Auditorium/Paterno Library at 7:30 p.m.
• RAWtools–A Commitment to Non-Violence event will begin at noon on Thursday, Jan. 19 at the Palmer Museum patio. The event will be followed by activist and professor Drew Hart’s speech on ending racism and gun violence at 6 p.m. in the HUB’s Heritage Hall. To round out the night a Gun Violence Debate will also be held in Heritage Hall starting at 7:30 p.m.
• An Evening Celebration with keynote speaker Cornell West from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 20 in Schwab Auditorium will wrap up the festivities for the week.