Isaiah Collier is looking forward to being a part of Eastern Illinois University’s annual candlelight march honoring civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday.
Collier, new assistant director of student life at EIU, is helping to organize the event with members of EIU’s chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, the fraternity Collier belonged to as a student at the University of Akron in Ohio. King was also a member of the fraternity.
“I’ve heard about how phenomenal it is every year,” Collier said of the EIU tribute to King. “It’s important that we as a fraternity keep the traditions going on year after year. It’s important that we show respect for someone who has left a legacy for us to follow and look up to.”
The candlelight march is to begin at 5:45 p.m. in the Thomas Hall lobby, 2120 Seventh St. Participants will march to the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union while singing “We Shall Overcome.”
A tribute service is to begin at 6:20 p.m. in the union’s Grand Ballroom. Following opening remarks from Alpha Phi Alpha member Marcel Morgan, the keynote address will be given by EIU student Jeff Collier, former president of the Black Student Union and a longtime member of EIU’s Student Senate.
The evening will also include poetry and prayer.
Community members are welcome to attend and participate.
Booth House
Eastern Illinois University
600 Lincoln Ave.
Charleston, IL 61920
217-581-7400
jdreinhart@eiu.edu