Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. with the Gonzaga Community

An illustration of a fist in yellow, green and red

January 11, 2024
Gonzaga University News Service
With the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. celebrated on Monday, Jan. 15, consider these opportunities to celebrate the civil rights leader’s work and legacy. Gonzaga activities this year are organized around the theme of “Learn from our past to move forward,” and are co-sponsored by GU’s Office of Inclusive Excellence, GU’s Unity Multicultural Education Center (UMEC), Spokane’s Martin Luther King, Jr., Family Outreach Center, GU’s Center for Community Engagement, Gonzaga Law School’s Center for Civil & Human Rights and the Black History 101 Mobile Museum.

ENGAGE

MLK Day March and Rally Sign-Making Session
Monday, Jan 15, 9 a.m., UMEC Office in Hemmingson 215

Join your fellow Zags in creating signs to carry at Spokane’s MLK Day Annual Unity Rally, March and Resource Fair.

MLK Day Unity Rally, Resource Fair and Teach-In
Monday, Jan. 15, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Spokane Convention Center (334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.)

Join the Spokane community in celebrating the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. People from across the Inland Northwest gather at the Spokane Convention Center annually for inspiring words from city leaders and a reading of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, followed by a march through downtown Spokane. The Resource Fair opens at 11:30 a.m., and this year you can enjoy the Black History 101 Mobile Museum from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Black History 101 Mobile Museum at Gonzaga
Tuesday, Jan. 16, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Hemmingson Center first floor

Take a pause during the first day of classes to enjoy the Black History 101 Mobile Museum visiting campus.

Race Reconciliation Film Screening and Dialogue
Thursday, Jan. 18, 6 p.m., Hemmingson Auditorium

Join your fellow Zags for a short film followed by a discussion.


PRAY

MLK Day Service
Sunday, Jan. 14, 3-5 p.m., Holy Temple Church of God in Christ (806 W. Indiana Ave.)

Join the congregation of the Holy Temple Church of God in Christ for a music and spoken word celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., at “the church at the heart of the city with the people of the city at heart.”

MLK Service at Gonzaga
Wednesday, Jan. 17, noon, University Chapel in College Hall.

A service of spoken word, movement and music in GU’s beautiful historic chapel.


CONNECT

To learn more about the Spokane chapter of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Outreach Center, visit the organization’s website or Facebook page.

To learn more about the Spokane chapter of the NAACP, visit the organization’s Facebook page.


EXPLORE

America magazine last year published an anti-racism examen for Jesuit universities.

Here is a lengthy selection of powerful writings and speeches compiled by the Office of Mission and Ministry in 2020.

Loyola University Chicago offers this collection of Faith-Based Anti-Racism Resources.

The Ignation Solidarity Network presents an examen for White allies.