Martin Luther King Jr. called the Rev. James Lawson "one who's been in this struggle for many years."
"He's been to jail for struggling; but he's still going on, fighting for the rights of his people," King said of Lawson in his last speech, "I See the Promised Land."
And now Lawson is scheduled to visit MSU on Jan. 20, to remember the life of the civil rights leader he mentored on the holiday created to commemorate the man.
Lawson and King joined in a peaceful method of fighting racial injustices and inequality.
The events that will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the holiday will be "similar to activities over the last several years," said Paulette Granberry Russell, director of MSU's Office of Affirmative Action and Compliance Monitoring. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Jan. 20.
Classes are canceled, and there will be a march that has probably become a tradition on campus, Russell said.
The march will end with Lawson's speech - to remember King with "not only a historical perspective, but as someone he knew personally and also worked with," said Lee June, vice president for student affairs and services.
"He's also one of the few people who interacted with King before his assassination," June said.
The march will begin in three places around campus - the International Center, IM Sports-East and Munn field. It will culminate at the Auditorium where Lawson plans to speak, rather than the Wharton Center where the event usually occurs.
If all goes as planned, Lawson will be marching with the MSU community, said family and community services junior Misty Staunton, who is a student co-chairwoman on the planning committee for the events.
The theme of the events, which will occur throughout the weekend ending Jan. 20, is "Chaos or Community?: It's Our Choice."
A jazz concert with the theme "Spiritual Prayer and Protest" will take place over the weekend along with other events.
Staunton said Lawson as a speaker will be beneficial to students.
"It's nice to bring someone who was there who can tell that story," she said. "And he's very excited to come here. He wants to get more in tune with the students."
