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Last month held Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. In honor of his birthday, SIB hosted several volunteer and educational events about the impact he had on our society. MLK Jr. advocated for the equal rights of Black people by way of nonviolent protests. He led many protests to end segregation such as sitting at lunch counters that were “whites-only” and leading people in a march to city hall. Although these were nonviolent protests, the police reacted in violent ways such as by using fire hoses and dogs on protestors. MLK Jr. was even arrested and wrote a letter about his reasoning for his nonviolent demonstrations. He knew that nonviolent direct action would create tension and awareness from a community that consistently ignored and refused to address the situation (Britannica). MLK Jr. also advocated for equal jobs and wages for all low-income Americans in The Poor People’s Campaign. I attended all of the events to honor MLK Jr’s legacy and found they served for the greater good of the community. On Tuesday, there was a Meals in Motion workshop where a few other students and myself created meal bags that are provided for our student body and/or those who are experiencing food insecurity. There were two recipes and we assembled them in their respective areas. Once we were done, they were placed in buildings that were mostly frequented such as DOW, Bird Feeder, Cornett, and LRC. The next event on Wednesday was Tie-Blanket Making. This event was repeated on Friday. Students were given an opportunity to help the local community by making cozy blankets. The blankets that were made are going to be donated to local organizations around Klamath Falls for those who are in need, specifically Transitions and the Gospel Mission. On Thursday, there was an Educational Awareness workshop that educated students about MLK Jr.’s impact, his beliefs, and why it’s important to celebrate with days of service. I enjoyed this workshop because this was where I learned about The Poor People’s Campaign. Other students and myself discussed his work and why it’s so important even in today’s society. MLK Jr. Week of Service serves as a reminder to help others in need and advocate against the inequities that many people of color and low-income people face. If you missed these opportunities, there are many other ways to give back to your community. Call local homeless shelters, volunteer at the hospital, donate gently used clothing, etc. There are endless ways to volunteer your time. You don’t have to be an expert to know about all of the inequities that others face, but listening and educating yourself about them can be a stepping stone towards fighting injustices happening around us. For more information, check out these resources: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martin-Luther-King-Jr/additional-info https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/birmingham-campaign-of-1963/
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