WITH VIDEO: Marchers trek through CMU, downtown in civil rights leader’s honor

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It was a little before 5 p.m. Monday when candles were held close to peoples’ hearts and Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision was held even closer.

MLK CommUNITY March and Peace Vigil involved a number of students, faculty, staff and community members who marched throughout Central Michigan University’s campus, punctuating the air with songs such as “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and ”We Shall Overcome,” and words of encouragement such as “Unity in the Community!”

The marchers ended their trek after reaching downtown Mount Pleasant.

“(People) should be marching for our rights, tolerance and acceptance,” said Nou Her, an Auburn senior.

Her has participated in the march annually since her freshman year and sees it as symbolic for what people should be doing every day.

She said King has always been her role model of what and what not to do.

“He’s very iconic for me — he’s a minority and I’m a minority; I think it’s important to participate in multicultural events right now,” Her said.

Speech and song

Lester Booker Jr., interim assistant director of Minority Student Services, said the event went well.

“We had an absolutely great turnout incorporating the vigil into the march itself,” Booker said. “We’re making steps toward the right direction, but it doesn’t stop here, it doesn’t stop on this day. We need to continue to press toward the mark of a higher calling.”

When the marchers stopped in downtown Mount Pleasant, a few speakers encouraged the crowd with songs and speeches about King’s cause during the vigil.

Saginaw junior John Ketchum was one of the speakers who talked about progression and equality.

“We as a people can say proudly that his death was not in vain,” Ketchum said. “Look around and observe the diverse population at this march today. This is living proof that the human race has made progress toward the goal of equality for all mankind that Dr. King worked so tirelessly to achieve.”

Ketchum said King’s work helps people become aware of themselves.

“We need to use the past sacrifices of Dr. King as a tool to fight discrimination in America and learn more about ourselves and this country in the process,” Ketchum said.

‘A blessing’

Muskegon junior Sherryia Armstrong said the feeling at the march was unexplainable.

She said it meant everything to her to be there.

“It’s a blessing just to come together and march and be a union. So for us to be together and march for what they fought for is a blessing. My heart is simply excited and I’m blessed,” Armstrong said.

MLK march from CMLifeVideo on Vimeo.