Lots of King activities set for Utahns

From visiting a monthlong exhibit on racism to attending a lecture by civil rights activist Angela Davis, Utahns have plenty of opportunities to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The late civil rights leader advocated nonviolent change and was a Nobel Peace Prize recipient. King was assassinated April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tenn., where he was supporting striking sanitation workers.

Betty Sawyer, president of the Ogden Branch of the NAACP, encouraged all Utahns to attend an event honoring the memory of King on Monday's Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, or to honor the civil rights leader through community service.

"It's a day on, not a day off," Sawyer said. "We encourage citizens from all over our state to find some sort of way to celebrate that day."

An opportunity for service will be at the Utah Food Bank, which is hoping to deliver 250 boxes of food to low-income seniors and people with disabilities on Monday.

The day will also serve to raise awareness on social issues. The Ogden NAACP branch is focusing on social justice and health at its annual prayer breakfast.

The Salt Lake Branch of the NAACP is raising awareness about education, which will be highlighted by awarding scholarships and honoring local students for essays on King's dream and race relations, said Jeanetta Williams, the branch's president.

"We feel that education is going to be the key to make sure folks have wealth and are able to get into homes," Williams said. "That's one of the reasons why we stress (education) and have young folks doing essays."

Here are some public events honoring King scheduled along the Wasatch Front:

Today:

• Salt Lake City — noon, civil rights activist Angela Davis keynotes the University of Utah's 2007 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at the Olpin Union Ballroom. For a complete list of the U.'s Martin Luther King Jr. events, visit www.diversity.utah.edu/mlk2007.html.

Friday:

• Orem — 1 p.m., David Pilgrim, curator of the Jim Crow Museum of Racial Memorabilia, speaks on "Jim Crow in the 21st Century," at Utah Valley State College's Centre Stage in the Sorensen Center, prior to a reception for the "Hateful Things" exhibit that runs through Jan. 27. For a full list of UVSC's week of events, visit www.uvsc.edu/events/mlk.

Monday: