Jan. 28, 2010

On January 16th, the University of San Diego's Women's Rowing team joined over 200 students, staff, faculty and administrators who marched along the mile-long route in the 30th Annual Martin Luther King Day Parade.

The parade was held in downtown San Diego in East Village and weaved around PETCO Park. Those involved delved into this day of remembrance which honored the life, achievements, and legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Following the parade, a lunch program at Linda Vista's Bayside Community Center featured words from author, war veteran and Linda Vista resident Lawrence Cade, as well as entertainment from local children.

USD was awarded a trophy for first prize in the category of "educational units" for its participation in the event.

As a political organizer, supremely skilled speaker and advocate of nonviolent protest, King was pivotal in persuading his fellow Americans to end legal segregation. Dr. Martin Luther King Day is a United States holiday, observed on the third Monday of January each year around the time of King's birthday, Jan. 15. It is one of four United States federal holidays to commemorate an individual person. It was initially observed in 1986 and at first, some states resisted observing the holiday giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.