News

Every year, the University of Virginia’s Office of the Vice President and Chief Officer for Diversity and Equity, along with dozens of UVA departments and offices, partners with local organizations to offer a variety of events that echo and continue the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s work for social justice, from interfaith services to talks with leading intellectuals and artists. This year’s schedule runs from Jan. 15 – which is officially recognized as Martin Luther King Jr. Day – through Feb. 5. The theme for the 2018 Community MLK Celebration is “Be the Difference.

Joy Reid, national correspondent for MSNBC and host of "AM Joy" and "The Reid Report," will be the keynote speaker for the 2018 Community MLK Celebration in January. Reid is the author of the book Fracture: Barack Obama, the Clintons and the Racial Divide and is former managing editor of theGrio.com.

Reid's address is set for Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. at the Paramount Theater. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Ticket reservations may be made starting Friday, December 8th at 10am from www.theparamount.net.

Anita Hill has devoted her career to civil rights and women’s rights since those days in 1991 when she boldly testified about sexual harassment during U.S. Senate hearings for Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. Hill, for many years now a Brandeis University professor, spoke Thursday night to a packed Paramount Theater as the keynote speaker for the University of Virginia’s 2017 Community MLK Celebration to commemorate the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

On March 21, 1963 the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. came to the University of Virginia to speak about civil rights.

Wesley Harris (Engr ’64), then chairman of the local chapter of the Virginia Council on Human Relations, was one of the students instrumental in bringing King to Charlottesville. For Harris, the visit was life changing. Years later Dr. William (Bill) Harris served as Dean of the Office of African American Affairs from 1976-1981.

On January 23, 2017 at 2:00 p.m., a plaque commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech will be unveiled in the auditorium of Old Cabell Hall. Donated by brothers William and Wesley Harris, the plaque will forever be a reminder of the speech that brought Dr. King’s legacy to UVA and Charlottesville.

Members of the media are invited to cover the unveiling and should arrive at 1:45 for interviews.

"A time comes when silence is betrayal,” the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said in 1967, speaking out against the war in Vietnam. Those words serve as the theme for the 2017 Community MLK Celebration. More than 15 events at the University of Virginia and in Charlottesville between Jan. 16 and Jan. 30 – from films and music to national speakers on issues of social justice and equality – will explore the concept of “Silence as Betrayal.")

Anita Hill, University Professor of Social Policy, Law, and Women's Studies at Brandeis University, will be the keynote speaker for the 2017 Community MLK Celebration in January. Hill is a leader in both the civil rights and women’s rights movements and an expert on the complex and often challenging issues of race, gender, and workplace discrimination in America. In 1993, Hill made sexual harassment in the workplace a national issue when she testified that Supreme Court Justice nominee Clarence Thomas had committed sexual harassment against her.

Hill's keynote speech is set for Thursday, January 26, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at the Paramount Theater. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required.

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT. THE DAY OF THE EVENT, ANY UNCLAIMED TICKETS WILL BE RELEASED AT 6:20 PM AT THE DOOR TO PATRONS IN THE STANDBY LINE.

The event “Black Lives Matter” featuring Alicia Garza on February 26th was cancelled at the request of the agency representing the speaker due to scheduling conflicts. The University of Virginia was notified of the cancellation Tuesday morning.

The lecture was originally scheduled in January as part of the 2016 Community MLK Celebration and was postponed due to inclement weather. At this time there are no plans to reschedule the event again.

The event time for “Black Lives Matter” by Alicia Garza at Old Cabell Hall on February 26th has been changed to 7:30 p.m. in order to accommodate a change in Ms. Garza’s schedule. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

This change was unavoidable and we do apologize for any inconvenience.

If you are a ticketholder who is now unable to attend, please email [email protected] to release your ticket or tickets.

Alicia Garza, social activist and co-creator of the viral hashtag and movement #BlackLivesMatter, will speak at Old Cabell Hall on Friday, February 26th at 6 p.m.

This event was originally scheduled on January 25th and postponed due to inclement weather.

Free tickets can be reserved online now and picked up in person at the U.Va. Arts Box Office  (located within the lobby of the Drama Building at 109 Culbreth Road) Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Any remaining tickets will be available at the door.

For more information, see the event page.

This event is presented by the Office of the Vice President and Chief Officer for Diversity & Equity, in partnership with the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy.

Due to expected inclement weather, Community MLK Celebration events that were scheduled for January 22-25 have been cancelled or rescheduled.

1/22 - "Unchained and Unbroken" Multimedia Event - CANCELLED

1/23 - Film Screening of "Bound" with Peres Owino - CANCELLED

1/23 - Exhibition Opening Reception on the Danville Civil Rights Movement - RESCHEDULED to 1/30, 6-8 p.m.

1/24 - 31st Annual Community Service at Mt. Zion FABC - RESCHEDULED to 1/31, 5 p.m.

1/25 - Keynote Address by Alicia Garza - CANCELLED - To be rescheduled this spring.

At this time, there are no other changes to the event calendar. Check back for updates.