Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Multicultural Educational Resource Center (MERC) is hosting a Martin Luther King event in celebration of Dr. King's life work. The event is on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. in the Pioneer Student Center's University Rooms. The event is free and open to the public.

MERC wants the event to celebrate Dr. King's life, his contributions to humanity and to provide information about his life legacy. Rather than just his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, the program will discuss some of Dr. King's lesser-known works, including writings he composed and speeches he gave. "A Promised Land," Dr. King's eulogy speech, is one work that will be examined at the event, which is designed to create discussion about how Dr. King's works transpired throughout his life and goals. "People should come to this event so they can learn more about who Dr. King was," commented Carlos Wiley, MERC director.

UW-Platteville has a long-standing tradition for celebrating the life of Martin Luther King. In the past, MERC sponsored Dr. Alex Gee, pastor at the Fountain of Life church in Madison, who gave a speech that was followed by a performance by the church's gospel choir. Last year, MERC showed a video of Dr. King's 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech and a discussion asking if that dream has been fulfilled followed.

Contact: Carlos Wiley, Multicultural Educational Resource Center director, (608) 342-1332,wileyc@uwplatt.edu Prepared by: Lisa McLean, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194,mcleanl@uwplatt.edu