Keynote speaker Mark Tracy encouraged people Wednesday night to follow Martin Luther King Jr.’s example of looking within and finding their own motivation. Tracy spoke to a crowd of nearly 75 students, faculty and community members honoring King at an open mic and candlelight vigil in the EMU
Amphitheater in King’s honor.
“Find the battle Dr. King fought for us, and fight it today,” said Tracy, assistant dean of
diversity programs.
The open mic and vigil comes after more than a week of events put on by student organizations commemorating King’s life, death and legacy, all following the theme, “Redefining the Dream.” The activities this year aimed at appealing to people of all ages, races and creeds through guest speakers, dancers and actors wanting to relay King’s message of motivation and acceptance.
“Many people don’t think beyond King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech,” Black Student Union co-director Kawezya Hutchinson said about this year’s theme. “We wanted people to look at his life in a different aspect and at his role in other areas of the civil rights movement.”
The crowd followed Hutchinson’s co-director, Haben Woldu, on a candlelight procession through the amphitheater while united in song.
Many guests echoed Tracy’s words, relaying accounts of King’s impact on their lives and opinions.
“A lot of people can talk about King and relate his life to present-day issues,” returning student Dot Cogdell said.
Jack Radey, a member of the Eugene Peace Choir, said that the immense trust people had in King was one of King’s greatest accomplishments.
“In my lifetime, I have seen no other political leader who was such a spokesperson for the United States’ ideals and for courage,” Radey said.
Radey and other singers led and performed songs throughout the service, and the vigil came to a close with the Eugene Peace Choir once again taking the stage. The choir led the audience — joined hand in hand — in singing “We Shall Overcome.”