By Jeff Powalisz

The spirit and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was celebrated in an annual day of respect and remembrance in Blackman Auditorium Wednesday.

“There is a reason why people in 130 countries across the world pause in January every year to say something happened on January 19th, 1929,” said keynote speaker Rev. Walter E. Fauntroy, a former King associate. “That every creed, every race and every color recognize the day’s message. That is that we either have to learn to live together as brothers and sisters or die together as fools – what a message.”

Fauntroy spoke about King’s message in the areas of religion, politics and racism.

“Martin Luther King, Jr. preaches the ideas of the gospel, the gospel which has messages of good news to the poor,” he said. “If you don’t have religion, if you don’t have any set of values, which gives meaning and purpose to our lives, you are stone-crazy.”

Fauntroy, a Washington, D.C. native and Virgin Union University graduate, has spent a life in the ministry pushing for civil rights. Fauntroy also spent time as the Washington coordinator of the 1963 March on Washington, and then as a member of the U.S. Congress from 1971 through 1990.

“Don’t be intimidated by anyone or anything, face the system, confront it, correct it,” he said. “If you have a misunderstanding, settle it. If they kill you, just rise up again and if they ask you anything, just tell ’em you heard Martin Luther King from the mountain top.”

A number of students attended the event, to honor King and listen to Fauntroy’s message.

“He was very powerful and his experience in civil rights is admirable and inspiring,” said William Reese, a sophomore history and political science major. “From the point of view of a student interested in political science and history, this has had a true impact on my plans for the future, or maybe even today.”

Other students who attended the speech, such as Luidgi Philix, a freshman engineering major, were impressed with Fauntroy’s words.

“[Fauntroy] has had a strong effect on many people who fight for what they believe in,” Philix said. “To have somebody saying he work-ed with [King], that brings a lot of interest.”

President Richard Freeland also spoke at the event, declaring that it was an important year in our nation and that it was a year of decision for the future, with the 2004 elections approaching faster and faster.

“Dr. King and the civil rights movement around him declared that ‘we shall overcome,'” Freeland said. “For those of you who think King’s vision cannot be fulfilled, may you find inspiration during the coming months ah-ead.”