Martin Luther King Jr. March

Junior Parrish

President of the Black Student Union, Elijah Smith, waits for the Fort Lewis Community to join the Martin Luther King Jr March on Jan. 20. This march has been a tradition for several years, and Smith aims to keep the tradition going in honor of the students who made the Black Student Union and Resource Center possible, Smith said.  

Sophomore, Native American Indigenous Studies major, Steve D Bradfield Jr gives a speech about how both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X shared love for their communities. “Let’s Assemble and stand in solidarity with love,” Bradfield Jr said. He also acknowledged the friends and family who are affected by the wildfires in Southern California. 

Martin Lurther King Jr. and Malcolm X, drawn by Bradfield Jr.

Those in attendance begin the march. Smith, pictured holding the sign on the right, hopes that participants honor Dr. King's legacy of being a pioneer of peaceful protesting and learning the history of the march. “Him as a leader in the community and history has really allowed us to change the landscape of who we are, what we’re gonna become, and still make changes to this day,” Smith said.

The march started at the clock tower which proceeded through the theater and Education Business Hall. The march continued through the Fort Lewis quad, turning at Crofton Hall, followed by Bosby Amphitheatre and the Reed Library.

After the march, students, staff and faculty sat down with some popcorn to watch the movie “Selma”. Snacks and drinks were provided for those in attendance.