Richardson emphasizing a point in his address to faculty and students at CSU, on the anniversary of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008. (Photo: Dave Bender)
Columbus State University celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s today, at a ceremony held on the anniversary of his birth.
Benjamin Richardson, Muscogee County's Solicitor-General and guest speaker, says much of King's legacy has been accomplished:
“I think a lot of Dr. King's legacy has been fulfilled, in terms of opportunities that weren't there before. For instance, my position: I am the first African-American Solicitor-General in Muscogee County. I know without Dr. King and others, that wouldn't have been possible.”
Students and faculty, seen here, repeatedly applauded during Richardson's address. (Photo: Dave Bender)
But Richardson, speaking to a roomful of over 100 students and faculty, says they risk squandering the civil-rights leader's legacy out of apathy and indifference:
“However, those rights and opportunities were not given without much struggle. Dr. King and others fought – and sometimes died – in the civil-rights movement to provide us so many opportunities for us today. But it seems we take those hard-fought rights and opportunities for granted. Unfortunately, we allow those same rights and opportunities to go by the wayside...”Richardson especially called on the students not to waste their right to vote in coming the elections, and to stay in school.
Click here for more GPB News reports about Dr. King and his family.
