CLEMSON — Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin, will be the keynote speaker at Clemson University’s 34th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Service at 6 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts.

It will be shown live online on ClemsonTV.

Martin Luther King Jr. observanceThe Commemorative Service is a part of a series of events in January celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“The 2016 MLK Planning Committee is very excited that Ms. Sybrina Fulton chose to be with us for this year’s service,” said Kendra Stewart-Tillman, director of diversity and inclusion in Clemson’s Gantt Multicultural Center. “We found it essential for this celebration to reflect the recent concerns brought forward by many of our student body through demonstrations over national incidences of violence.”

Since the tragic death of her 17-year-old son in 2012, Fulton has embraced the ensuing national spotlight as a chance to become an advocate for social change. Despite the intense struggle of losing a child, she has become an influential advocate for preventing violence towards children and for building better, safer communities.

Fulton has shared her powerful message with many universities, legal professionals and social justice organizations.

Fulton graduated from Florida Memorial University with a degree in English. She worked for the Miami-Dade County Housing Development Agency for more than 25 years and is a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Miami Gardens.

“Ms. Fulton is able to personalize the impact of violence from the loss of her son and has been actively working to decrease injustices that have happened across our nation from Sandy Hook to Walter Scott and, unfortunately, many more,” said Stewart-Tillman.

Other events are planned this month to celebrate diversity and equality in the community.

“These events are important to our community because they remind us to take a moment each year to reflect on Dr. King’s call to action for equity and inclusion that is still relevant today,” said Stewart-Tillman. “Beyond reflection, the MLK events here at Clemson also allow us opportunities to actively participate in service and educational interactions with one another to help shape a more inclusive community.”

The 2016 MLK Celebration events include:

Civil Rights Field Trip, Jan. 15-17

Clemson undergraduate and graduate students will travel to the state capitol, South Carolina State University and Emmanuel AME Church to learn more about the history of civil rights in South Carolina.

Day of Service, Jan. 18

Students, faculty and staff can use their MLK holiday to participate in service projects in the community. The Day of Service will take place from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. at Hendrix Student Center, then divide into groups to help at various community sites, such as the Clemson Child Development Center and S.C. Botanical Garden. There also will be an MLK Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Hendrix Student Center meeting rooms.

Commemorative Service with keynote speaker Sybrina Fulton, Jan. 19

Ms. Fulton will speak at the 2016 Commemorative Service at 6 p.m. at the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts. Since the death of her son, Fulton has dedicated her life to transforming her family’s tragedy into social change.

“It Takes Courage” discussion, Jan. 20

Facilitated by poet, victim and activist Leah Burgess, this discussion will be rooted in the intersections between race, gender and oppression. The event will take place at 6 p.m. in the McKissick Theatre at the Hendrix Student Center.

Tunnel of Oppression, Jan. 21

The Tunnel of Oppression will be open to the public from 2 to 7 p.m. in the Hendrix Student Center ballrooms. The tunnel simulates situations to show how some groups in society face oppression on a daily basis in regular interactions.

Open, Honest Conversations: Bringing Together Law Enforcement and the Community, Jan. 26

This panel will take place at McKissick Theatre in Hendrix Student Center at 6 p.m.

For more information about Clemson’s 2016 MLK Celebration, visit http://www.clemson.edu/mlk/.

Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin, will be the keynote speaker at Clemson University’s 34th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Service at 6 p.m. Jan. 19.
http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_cumlkdayevents01.jpgSybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin, will be the keynote speaker at Clemson University’s 34th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Service at 6 p.m. Jan. 19. Photo courtesy of Clemson University

http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_cumlkdayevents02.jpgPhoto courtesy of Clemson University

This story courtesy of Clemson University.