The single-digit temperatures on Monday, Jan. 20, didn’t deter students and the Denison University community at large from showing up for the annual march and brunch honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The civil rights leader would have been 96 on Jan. 15.

The large crowd at Mitchell Recreation Center heard from the Urban Strings Columbus youth orchestra, the DUwop a capella singers, and a number of speakers who talked about the importance of King’s work and his legacy. Denison President Adam Weinberg said MLK Day is the only day in the entire academic year when classes are canceled to focus full attention on the works of one person. Weinberg encouraged people to spend time during the special day to read some of King’s writings.

Denison students participating in the march carried signs honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Credit: Alan Miller
Hundreds took part in a march across the Denison University campus to the Mitchell Recreation Center, where a program of music and speeches honored Dr. Martin Luther King. Credit: Alan Miller
Hundreds of people from the Denison University community celebrated civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during a brunch on Monday, Jan. 20. Credit: Alan Miller
The Urban Strings Columbus orchestra entertained the crowd during the MLK Day brunch at Denison University. Credit: Alan Miller
Messages of love and unity appeared in signs and speeches during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day events at Denison University on Monday, Jan. 20. Credit: Alan Miller

Alan Miller

Alan Miller teaches journalism and writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University's Journalism Program. He is the former executive editor of The Columbus Dispatch and former Regional Editor for Gannett's 21-newsroom USAToday Network Ohio.