Tue Jan 21 13:30:00 UTC 2025: **Civil Rights Icon Ruby Bridges to Speak at University of Chicago’s MLK Commemoration**
CHICAGO, IL – Civil rights pioneer Ruby Bridges, who at six years old bravely integrated an all-white New Orleans elementary school in 1960, will be the keynote speaker at the University of Chicago’s 35th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Celebration. The event, free and open to the public, will take place on January 29th at 6 p.m. in Rockefeller Memorial Chapel.
Bridges’ historic walk to William Frantz Elementary School, past a hostile mob and escorted by U.S. marshals, became a defining moment in the American Civil Rights Movement. She faced relentless harassment but persevered, becoming a symbol of courage and resilience. Her story, immortalized in a Norman Rockwell painting, has been shared globally through books, television, and film.
The evening will also include remarks from University of Chicago President Paul Alivisatos and performances by Uniting Voices Chicago. The annual commemoration features speakers who have carried on King’s legacy; past speakers have included Martin Luther King III, Attorney General Eric Holder Jr., and President Barack Obama.
“It is an honor to welcome Ruby Bridges,” said Vice Provost Waldo E. Johnson, Jr. “Her lifelong commitment to equal educational opportunity inspires generations.”
Bridges, an author and founder of the Ruby Bridges Foundation, promotes tolerance through education. She will discuss her experiences as an activist and author during a fireside chat. The foundation’s annual Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day encourages student activism.
Tickets are encouraged to be reserved in advance. For more information, visit the UChicago MLK Commemoration Celebration website.
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