The University's suspension of classes and observance of the MLK Day holiday, along with the creation of a University-sponsored symposium, were direct results of student activism in the late 1980s. It is therefore significant that we use this day as an opportunity for our community to reflect on the impact of Dr. King's vision for justice and equality. As we enter the 40th anniversary of the holiday's observance, we also celebrate the legacy of this U-M tradition. This year, our 2026 symposium will explore the theme, "Unbowed and Unbroken – The Enduring Struggle for Justice." Inspired by his theological roots, Dr. King spoke of the struggle for justice as a journey of perseverance, often drawing parallels with the story of Exodus and the Civil Rights Movement. In August 1967, Dr. King spoke at a Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) meeting overseen by then-Vice President Dr. Ralph Abernathy, father of Donzaleigh Abernathy. During his speech, entitled "Where Do We Go From Here?," Dr. King said, "Before we reach the majestic shores of the promised land, there will still be gigantic mountains of opposition ahead and prodigious hilltops of injustice." Being "unbowed and unbroken" not only speaks to the great sacrifices of those who have come before, but to our own refusal to yield to injustice and to continue the journey with irrepressible resolve. It is the audacity to face landscapes riddled with discrimination, not in resignation, but in defiant hope, believing in the possibility of change. We are excited to announce that we will have two keynote speakers: Donzaleigh Abernathy, an American actress, author, and civil rights activist, and the goddaughter of Dr. King, and Derrick Johnson, 19th president and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). If you are unable to attend in-person, a live stream will also be made available the morning of the event here: https://oami.umich.edu/mlk-symposium/ Please fill out the leadership event reflection form within a week of the event to receive credit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeZB_Y_3XPP1VqTxA2REdewoPf5hN_RDw6uVIGQpFU7ljCzkg/viewform?usp=header