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The Rev. Lowery speaks for MLK Day |
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Thursday, 11 January 2007 |
by JULIA HARR
News Reporter
Many people served alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the Civil Rights Movement.
The Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, a globally known activist and the keynote speaker at this year’s MLK Commemoration Ceremony, is one of those people.
The ceremony takes place Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. in Farthing Auditorium. Admission is free.
Appalachian State University’s Multicultural Advisory Board recommended
the Rev. Lowery because of his association with King and his experience
with the Civil Rights Movement.
“[The] Reverend Joseph E. Lowery is an internationally recognized civil
rights activist who has dedicated a lifetime to the issues of social
and economic justice,” according to a university press release. “[He]
led peace delegations to the Middle East and Central America, and
served alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a key figure in the
Civil Rights Movement.”
Lowery has earned awards such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Lifetime Achievement Award.
Lowery is considered “the dean of the Civil Rights Movement” by his followers, according the National Civil Rights Museum.
“We hope [the] Rev. Lowery will come and talk about his experience with
Dr. King, and about civil rights today compared to the time of the
Civil Rights Movement,” Multicultural Education Assistant Director
Augusto E. Peña said.
Lowery and King co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Feb. 14, 1957, according to www.sclcnational.com
“The SCLC is a nonprofit, non-sectarian, inter-faith, advocacy
organization that is committed to non-violent action to achieve social,
economic and political justice,” according to the Web site.
Lowery spoke at the funeral of Coretta Scott King, wife of Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. His comments warranted him a burst of applause and a
hug from President George W. Bush, according to CNN.
“We know now there were no weapons of mass destruction over there,”
Lowery said at the funeral. “But Coretta knew and we know that there
are weapons of misdirection right down here -- millions without health
insurance, poverty abounds. For war, billions more, but no more for the
poor.”
Peña, who co-advises the Black Student Association, encourages all
students to attend and share dialogue on diversity and inclusiveness.
Students can expect to get a good sense of history, a deeper
appreciation for diversity, and an understanding of national struggles
today, Peña said.
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