{"id":2111,"date":"2010-09-21T16:48:22","date_gmt":"2010-09-21T16:48:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2010\/09\/21\/day-of-celebration-commemorates-historic-event\/"},"modified":"2013-02-01T19:50:08","modified_gmt":"2013-02-01T19:50:08","slug":"day-of-celebration-commemorates-historic-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saintpeters.edu\/news\/2010\/09\/21\/day-of-celebration-commemorates-historic-event\/","title":{"rendered":"Day of Celebration Commemorates Historic Event"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"Jersey City, N.J.<\/strong> – On Wednesday, September 22, 2010, Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s College will commemorate the 45th anniversary of when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited the Jersey City campus, where he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws and Letters degree, the first offered by a Jesuit college or university. To celebrate, a coalition of thirty offices, departments, programs and student clubs are planning events over the course of the school year and tomorrow, will host a series of events throughout the day including poetry readings, music and lectures.  <\/p>\n

“Dr. King was a pivotal figure in the Civil Rights Movement,” said Anna Brown, Ph.D., program coordinator for King-Kairos Social Justice House and assistant professor of political science. “His determination and leadership inspired men and women across the nation to help bring significant social changes to our country. Dr. King left a legacy of hope that still lives on today. ”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

On September 22, 1965, Dr. King addressed a crowd of approximately 500 people at the College’s Michaelmas Convocation, an annual ceremony that recognizes Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s College students for outstanding academic achievement. According to an account in the school newspaper, Dr. King spoke against segregation and violence, and despite setbacks in the civil rights movement, King expressed optimism. “Although some will be scared, lose jobs and be called bad names, our problems will be solved,” King said. “We shall overcome.”<\/div>\n
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Raymond M. Brown, Esq., trial attorney, teacher, cofounder of the International Justice Project and host of the Emmy award winning NJN program, "Due Process", is a partner in the litigation department of Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP.  Mr. Brown, son of the late Raymond A. Brown, Esq., famed trial attorney and civil rights activist who received an honorary degree from Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s College in 1972, will be the kickoff speaker for the yearlong celebration at Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s.<\/div>\n
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Below is a detailed schedule of special events, which begin at 8 a.m. and last until 7 p.m.<\/div>\n