Grand Valley to honor 'I Have a Dream' 50th anniversary

August 28 marks the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s deliverance of his “I Have a Dream” speech as he stood before thousands of people on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.

Grand Valley will join organizations and universities throughout the country in “Let Freedom Ring,” a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of this moment in history at 3 p.m. on August 28 by ringing the bells in the carillon towers on the Allendale and Pew Grand Rapids campuses for 15 seconds.

The tribute to King was organized by the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

“OMA’s mission is to foster a climate of inclusiveness that will provide students with the opportunities for intercultural awareness and appreciation,” said Bobby Springer, associate director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs. “Let Freedom Ring brings awareness and appreciation to this moment in time. For the students, this is a significant time for them to reflect on where we are today and where we should be in the next 50 years.”

WGVU TV will host PBS programming in conjunction with the anniversary. For details and a schedule, visit www.wgvu.org.

For more information on this and other OMA events throughout the year, visit www.gvsu.edu/oma.