The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) in association with MORAL MONDAYS at SU, the #BlackLivesMatter Initiative at Seattle University, proudly present the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration: The Fierce Urgency of Now, featuring keynote speaker - Dr. Karen A. Johnson. This free event, held the day after the national holiday, on Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at 6:30pm in the Campion Ballroom, Campion Tower, located at 914 East Jefferson on the Seattle University campus.

Keynote speaker Dr. Karen A. Johnson - https://vimeo.com/147920545 - is a co-founder and chairwoman of the Black Alliance of Thurston County (BATC) a coalition of community members, lawmakers and stakeholder working to address policing and the use of deadly force in Washington State. Dr. Johnson will speak to the important work of the BATC - http://www.blackalliancethurston.org/origin-of-the-alliance.html, the contemporary relationship to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and a call for action inspired by these prophetic words:

• We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there "is" such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action. - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration: The Fierce Urgency of Now will be co-emceed by Kelvin Peprah (African Student Association, President), Syesha Thomas (Black Law Student Association, President), and Mashayla Combs (Black Student Union, President).

The evening will feature performances by Northwest Tap Connection - http://www.nwtapconnection.org/ / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr-FyI-3wZ0 and Sharon Nyree Williams - http://www.sharonnwilliams.com/.

This event is co-sponsored by Office of Multicultural Affairs, MORAL MONDAYS at SU, Campus Ministry, Division of Student Development, the Indigenous People’s Institute, African Student Association, Black Law Student Association, and the Black Student Union.