College students in Aiken celebrate Martin Luther King’s legacy
AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Aiken universities came together to celebrate the legacy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made to public service through their annual community celebration on Sunday.
The event, hosted by USC Aiken and Aiken Tech, featured the first black woman to chair the South Carolina Democratic Party Christale Spain serving as the celebration’s keynote speaker.
The founder of the SCDPS black women’s caucus says for her, this ceremony is more than just an event.
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“It’s more than just an event, it’s a reminder of where we’ve come from and I think in this new era that we’re we’re being ushered into, it’s absolutely 100% important to know where we came from because without knowing where we came from, we’re destined to repeat the past,” Spain said.
Spain left attendees with ways to preserve Dr. King’s achievements and legacy as time went on.
She urged people to keep working hard day in and day out, and spoke about the threats she sees to King’s legacy.
“All the diversity and equity inclusion initiatives that are now being rolled back, that was progress things are not the same that the playing field is not level for everybody, and those initiatives help help level the playing field,” Spain stated.
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She said it’s a full circle moment to be able to return to her alma mater for the community celebration.
Students and staff volunteered their time at the Aiken Animal Shelter, the Salvation Army, Helping Hands of Aiken, And ‘Acts’ of Aiken.
“Well, I think it shows how much of us young people care about our community. Seeing us young people together makes a statement about how much we do care and how much ion we have for our community. Just getting together really makes a statement of ion for both our schools and our community as a whole,” said Aiken Tech Campus Ambassador Caleb Harris.
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