The Martin Luther King Jr. CommUNITY Peace March and Vigil, an annual event hosted by Multicultural Academic Student Services, took place on Jan. 20 at Central Michigan University's Student Activity Center.

Jose Medina, a student at CMU and a committee member of the MASS Office, said that people should remember King's advocacy every day.

“MLK Day is just one simple day, but in general, advocating for the entire year, for your entire lifetime, is very important,” Medina said. “Because everybody goes through different things, everybody has different backgrounds, diversity and culture.”

Due to cold weather, the event took place inside unlike in past years. Students and community members marched through the SAC in remembrance and celebration.

“MLK was a huge part of the United States history, he had a huge part in the civil rights movement and every movement that's going forward till this day,” Medina said. “That's why having these events is very important."

Kelsey Muth, a junior at CMU, went to the event to show allyship, she said.

“I think it's really important to use the privilege that I have as a white woman in society to uplift the voices of others, and because I really resonate with the values of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” Muth said.

She said MLK day means celebrating the power of peaceful protesting and community empowerment.

“It sets aside space for people to think about how they can create change in society and what they really want to and should be involved in, and what they should be fighting for, and what resonates with them,” Muth said.

The event hosted two speakers, one of those being senior Imani Ellsworth. Ellsworth acknowledged the mixed emotions in the room due to the current political climate and events.

“Regardless of political beliefs or ideology, let us not lose sight of the magnitude of the mandate to honor Dr. Martin Luther King,” Ellsworth said. “Today, I will pause to reflect on Dr. King's relentless work and unwavering resilience.”

Ellsworth reminded the audience of the difficulties King encountered and the disciplinary challenges he faced.

“It was evident that he did not sit idly by while witnessing constant acts of discrimination, violence,” Ellsworth said. “He chose to stand out and speak out and demand change, even when doing so came at a great personal cost.”

Ellsworth said it is our responsibility to stand together, support one another, strive for justice and continue to fight for equity and inclusion, regardless of who you are.

“Never forget that everyone deserves nothing short of human decency,” Ellsworth said. “We must ask ourselves how we can be catalysts for change and continue to carry forward the admission of justice, equity and peace as we continue to fight for women's rights, student debt relief, safer gun laws, racial justice and so many other causes that may be dear to our hearts.

"We must continue to use Dr. King's philosophy of nonviolence but rather use our voice to demonstrate and make a change.”

Ellsworth asked the audience to let King's legacy serve as a guiding light.

“Continue to remind yourself and others, Dr. King's Junior's legacy remains just as relevant today as he did 60 years ago,” Ellsworth said.