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Dear Members of the Gettysburg College Community,

On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, as we reflect on all that has transpired within our society and across the nation this past year, we are reminded of the enduring words of Dr. King. He observed, “Agape means recognition of the fact that all life is interrelated. All humanity is involved in a single process, and all men are brothers. To the degree that I harm my brother, no matter what he is doing to me, to that extent I am harming myself.”

We are living in a moment in history that calls on us to examine our very humanity, and how our chosen rhetoric and behaviors can detract from it—or offer to it new life, vibrancy, and meaning. Our choices manifest themselves in powerful ways every day, from how we engage one another and bridge difference to how we embody our own stated commitments in advancing racial justice and equality on this campus and in the world.

As we embrace the full responsibilities inherent in our own humanity, may we be guided by Dr. King’s radical notion of love—and know that amid our current struggles for change, “unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.”

Get Involved

Given Gettysburg College’s focus on tangible action, an essential driver for social activism, we would encourage you to engage in the following MLK Day opportunities:

• Listen to the latest episode of Conversations Beneath the Cupola, featuring Jennifer Bloomquist, Associate Provost for Faculty Development, and McKinley Melton, Associate Professor of English. The episode explores Dr. King’s use of language and its transcendent impact on society.
• View a recording of the Gettysburg Children’s Choir virtual concert, “Be the Change.” The choir is led by Brent Talbot, Associate Professor of Music. The concert will be available for viewing until midnight tonight.
• Commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. King with a purchase of a yard sign for your residence. Proceeds from the signs will benefit the Adams County Career Aid Project (ACCAP), which empowers Adams County residents to continue their undergraduate education. This initiative is coordinated by the MLK Community Celebration Committee. Please see the attached flyer for more information.
• Participate in a motor cavalcade celebrating the Black community in Gettysburg and Adams County at 2 p.m. today at the Peace Light Monument. Learn more about this Gettysburg Community Collective event by reviewing the flyer attached.

Together, as Gettysburgians, let us mold our words and actions in the example of Dr. King, and enrich our humanity through the pursuit of peace, justice, truth, and love.

Sincerely,