It was an exciting morning Wednesday, January 11, 2023, as people came in droves to St. Louis University in the Busch Student Center at the Wool Ballroom for the annual memorial tribute honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This event was put on by St. Louis University and the Urban League of Metropolitan of St. Louis.
Everyone from non-profit, civic leaders and politicians conversed in the ballroom with one another. There was plenty of networking and a delicious buffet breakfast.
David Suwalsky, S.J., Ph.D., vice president for mission and identity, led in prayer as multiple speakers came up to the podium delivering powerful heartfelt messages about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and also speaking on what we can do as a community to create change.
There were beautiful singing performances and there was a band that played elegant African American music. St. Louis University President Fred P. Pestello took the audience down memory lane as he stated words spoken by Dr. King during a campus visit in 1964, echoing “We have come a long, long way, but we have a long, long way to go.”
The final speaker was Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton. She gave a powerful speech as she talked about how she transformed her son’s tragedy into social change. Sybrina talked about the groundwork that she has put in to end senseless gun violence.
Fulton was honored with the Drum Major for Justice Award at the event. I asked Sybrina Fulton even though the community has been marching against injustices, What can people do more to fight police brutality and injustices? Sybrina stated “You have to participate and get involved in non-profit organizations. If we all do a part just a little bit, we can make a big difference.”
This was a great progressive event. There was an abundance of black power in the room.
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