Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2016

Local Talk begins on Martin Luther King Jr. Day with an excerpt from a speech by Dr. King on "The Future of Integration," delivered in June 1961. Devita Harden, president of the League of Women Voters and a member of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Ames, and Aaron Hudgins, an Iowa State student, and Treasurer of the local chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, join the show to help commemorate Dr. King.

Ms. Harden and host Susan Franzen describe responses to last Saturday's screening of the film, "Selma," at the Ames Public Library and shared recordings of personal statements.

Aaron Hudgins describes the work of the National Society of Black Engineers. He also shared his understanding of the message of MLK Day, as a student. He described communication between students of color, the University, and the Ames City Police and ISU Security, as a result of racially biased incidents at IU. With a newly instituted Office for Diversity and Inclusion, Aaron described his hopes for change at ISU. Dervita Harden agreed with his call for more open communication at the community level as well as at ISU.

Greta Anderson interviews Betty Andrews, the president of the Iowa-Nebraska chapter of the NAACP about possible winds of change to reduce discrimination on the state level, when Governor Terry Branstad signaled strong support for Criminal Justice Reform in Iowa during his recent Condition of the State Address.

Christine De Coudreaux, Public Information Officer for Youth and Shelter Services and chair of this year’s Ames Martin Luther Celebration, gives information on civic ceremonies for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

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Originally broadcast 01/18/2016
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