Guest opinion: All are welcome to celebrate the legacy of MLK
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- Angela Choberka
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- Taylor Hartman
Upon the occasion of Martin Luther King Jr. Day coming up on Monday, the MLK Jr. Human Rights Commission would like to invite community members to reflect on the meaning of the commemoration of Dr. King’s legacy as well as to invite you to participate in the many community events that will be taking place in his honor.
The state commission was originally established under an executive order by Utah Gov. Norm Bangerter in 1991 and reissued again in 2013 by Gov. Gary Herbert. The Utah State Legislature then codified it into state statute in 2019. This is due in large part to the advocacy and leadership of many community leaders.
We are honored to serve alongside 11 other commissioners who have been appointed by the governor from across the state, but especially excited to represent the northern region. One of the main focuses of our work is sharing the Six Principles of Nonviolence in order to create the “Beloved Community”:
1. Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people.
2. Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding.
3. Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice, not people.
4. Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform.
5. Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate.
6. Nonviolence believes the universe is on the side of justice.
Additionally, the role of the commission is to spread awareness of the day as “A Day On, Not a Day Off.” One of the ways you can do so is to review an online toolkit that was created to help people celebrate the holiday meaningfully.
Locally, there is an annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast and Unity March hosted by Project Success Coalition, Ogden NAACP and Weber State University along with Ogden City. This year it will be from 9-11 a.m. at Union Station, 2501 Wall Ave., Ogden, with the theme “Chaos or Community? Embracing the Kingian Principles of Nonviolence.” Everyone is invited.
You can find out more information about Project Success Coalition and this event at https://projectsuccessinc.org/.
Angela Choberka and Taylor Hartman are members of the MLK Jr. Human Rights Commission.