Fort Lewis Students March for Unity on MLK Day

Students at Fort Lewis College turned Martin Luther King Jr. Day into a powerful celebration of unity, gathering for a campus-wide march that reminded everyone progress takes constant work.

The Black Student Union organized an evening of events including sign-making, a unity march, and a screening of "The Butler." BSU President Elijah Smith emphasized that honoring MLK's legacy isn't about trending moments but continuous advocacy for policy change.

"With Black Lives Matter, the message always goes trending on social media," Smith said. "We saw rises in 2016, we saw rises in 2020, but the message never changes. We always do the work."

Steve D Bradfield Jr., the BSU's Outreach Coordinator, captured the evening's spirit perfectly. "Dr. King could not have done it by himself," he told the crowd. "It took a community. It took his family. He understood that it's going to take all of us to make a difference on this campus or anywhere."

College President Heather Shotton walked alongside students, showing leadership support for the message. She said she hopes students know their entire campus community stands with them daily.

For freshman Gethsemane Lyons, the march meant something deeply personal. "It means equality in all aspects, not just skin color," she said. She believes marching for important causes matters more now than ever.

Why This Inspires

This celebration marks the 40th year of MLK Day as a federal holiday, but what makes it special isn't the milestone. It's watching a new generation understand King's most important lesson: lasting change happens when communities stay committed beyond single moments of outrage or awareness.

The Fort Lewis students aren't waiting for the next trending hashtag to take action. They're building relationships, having conversations, and showing up for each other every single day. That's exactly the kind of "beloved community" King dreamed about.

Their handmade signs and unified voices prove that young people today grasp what King knew in the 1960s: real progress requires everyone working together, consistently and courageously.

These students are carrying forward a 60-year legacy of nonviolent advocacy, one campus march at a time.