Next Monday, Jan. 17 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a federal holiday honoring the indelible contributions of the civil rights giant. Oglethorpe University will recognize this national holiday with several days of virtual programming with a civil rights focus, including guest lectures, a film screening and a student-led panel.

Traditionally, Oglethorpe University honors this holiday with a day of service, where OU students and alumni volunteer around the Atlanta area. However, due COVID-19, this year’s celebration of MLK Day will be entirely virtual.

This year’s events include:

Monday, Jan. 17 – Oglethorpe University is closed in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Tuesday, Jan. 18, 1:00 p.m. – “Good Trouble: Reflecting on Voter Rights in GA with the Georgia Muslim Voters Project.”: In this panel moderated by Ashrakat Hassan ’24, co-president of Oglethorpe University’s Muslim Student Association, Georgia Muslim Voters Project Executive Director Shafina Khabani and several field organizers will discuss recently-passed restrictions on voting registration in Georgia and the importance of mobilizing to secure the right to vote for all.

Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 18 and 19 – Film Screening of “Selma”: This award-winning film from acclaimed director Ava DuVernay depicts the 1965 voting rights marches from Selma to Montgomery led by Martin Luther King, Jr., Hosea Williams and John Lewis. This film will be available to all members of the Oglethorpe community to stream for free from Jan. 18 – Jan. 19. Please visit OUConnect to stream.

Wednesday, Jan. 19, 1:00 p.m. – “The Unknown Radical Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.“: Associate Professor of Education at Spelman College Dr. Richard Benson will discuss the life and career of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in recognition of the national holiday. Attendees must register for a Zoom link to the event.