St. Ambrose has been on the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement since the 1940s, and Civil Rights Week has become an annual celebration of the gains that have been made and the important work still to be done.
This year's celebration included a Silent March to commemorate the Civil Rights Movement, reflect on the impact the movement had, and consider what those efforts mean for us today. The Jan. 19 march began at Christ the King Chapel on campus and proceeded to the Hilltop Plaza Park a few blocks away. There, remarks were shared from the Pacem in Terris Award acceptance speech made by Dr. Martin Luther King just down Harrison Street 50 years before. Dr. King was the second recipient of the award created by the Catholic Interracial Council that St. Ambrose faculty helped establish.
When the dozens of marchers returned to campus, they found a striking mosaic mural featuring Dr. King and many others who dedicated their lives to fighting for equality of opportunity and law. Painted by a number of talented high school students and artists from throughout the Quad Cities and commissioned by the QC United organization, it will ultimately make its home in Davenport's planned Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park Plaza at the intersection of 5th and Brady Streets.
Follow coverage of Civil Rights week and activities through the links below:
Activities at Ambrose recognize civil rights work (Dispatch/Argus)
St. Ambrose Public Radio KALA - Radio Broadcast Honors Dr. King, Highlights Local History (KWQC TV-6)
Davenport Martin Luther King project gets $3 million boost, featuring an interview with SAU Director of Diversity, Ryan Saddler (Quad-City Times)
View a photo album of the March in Remembrance on the St. Ambrose University Facebook page
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