NAACP’s Derrick Johnson returns for MLK Day at University of Michigan

• The College of Michigan will host its fortieth annual Rev. on January 19, 2026. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Manage a symposium.
• The primary audio system will probably be Dr.’s goddaughter. King, Donzaleigh Abernathy, and NAACP President Derrick Johnson.
• This yr’s theme is ‘Unbent and Unbroken – the Ongoing Wrestle for Justice’.
• The free occasion is open to the general public and will probably be held in Hill Auditorium, with a livestream choice accessible.

The College of Michigan will have fun the fortieth anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Symposium on Monday, January 19. Martin Luther King Jr. have fun with a campus-wide celebration in honor of Dr. King’s continued struggle for justice and equality.

What started as a student-led initiative within the late Eighties has grown into one of many largest Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations in larger schooling nationwide, bringing collectively college students, school, workers and group members for reflection and motion.

The Symposium’s keynote Memorial Lecture will happen at 10:00 AM within the Hill Auditorium and can function Donzaleigh Abernathy – actress, creator, civil rights activist and goddaughter of Dr. King – alongside Derrick Johnson, the nineteenth president and CEO of the NAACP.

The occasion is open to each members of the College group and most of the people, with livestream viewing and group viewing get together choices accessible for many who can’t attend in particular person.

This yr’s theme, “Unbent and Unbroken – The Continued Wrestle for Justice,” displays Dr. King’s legacy of resilience and hope, emphasizing the ethical braveness required to confront injustice and the continued dedication to significant, lasting change. Johnson, a local Detroiter, mentioned it is nice to return to the area.

“I believe it is essential that we acknowledge the work, the phrases and the rules that (King) embraced,” Johnson mentioned. “He embraced a democracy that was inclusive, a morality for this nation that acknowledges that each particular person is somebody to be handled with respect and dignity – and a authorities that cares about folks and … serves folks’s wants. I believe that is probably the most acceptable approach to take a look at this second: If we need to honor the person, let’s take a look at the essence of what the person represents in gentle of the present local weather.

“We should have an inclusive society and equal safety underneath the legislation. That should apply to all residents, and we now have a structure that we should respect. If that (to say) is harmful on this democracy, we do not have a democracy.”

The trail ahead

In gentle of escalating hate crimes and racial divisions in america, Johnson mentioned the NAACP will proceed its work at full velocity.

“We’ll proceed to do what we now have all the time finished,” he mentioned, “whether or not it’s taking points in courtroom – the redistricting fights in Texas, Missouri and Louisiana, a number of states – we’re each plaintiffs and attorneys in these circumstances. We’re working with communities throughout the nation to deal with the proliferation of information facilities, to make sure that in the event that they exist, wherever they exist, they’re good enterprise providers for these communities and don’t contribute to noise air pollution, declining water high quality or devaluation of property values. of house owners round them. We’re engaged in well being care and guaranteeing folks perceive their rights to entry well being care as we proceed to assist them.”

Johnson additionally advocated for the black group to recollect to depart room for pleasure and peace throughout troublesome occasions, calling this “important.”

“All of us want our relaxation,” he mentioned. “Pleasure is advocacy. Pleasure is an indication that we’re a group that loves life, folks and tradition as we construct and develop tradition, and likewise the demonstration of success and the issues we pursue for the long run.”

Extra: Who was Martin Luther King Jr.? What you might want to know in regards to the civil rights chief

When requested how non-black residents can finest function allies at this second in historical past, Johnson was clear.

“Do not lose hope,” he mentioned. “Do not lose the kindness. Do not get misplaced in myths and misinformation about who we’re as a rustic, and do not permit folks to misrepresent that each human being ought to be handled with dignity. We’re entitled to dignity. An individual’s authorized standing on this nation shouldn’t decide whether or not or not she or he loses his or her proper to a good trial assured by the Structure. “Othering” has been weaponized in a approach that might result in our downfall.

“We’re all people with contributions we will make, and we have to see one another for the values ​​we convey. Our range is our power – not our weak point.”

Unbent and Unbroken: The Continued Wrestle for Justice

MLK Keynote Memorial Lecture

When: January 10, January 19

The place: Hill Auditorium, 825 N. College Ave., Ann Arbor

Recognition: Free and open to the general public; livestreaming accessible the morning of the occasion at umic.edu