Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

As we celebrate the federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I hope you will join me in reflecting on the longstanding ties between UC Davis School of Law, Dr. King, and his dream. Our connection to the civil rights icon dates back to the School of Law's earliest days, and it continues to guide our mission.

In April 1968, shortly after Dr. King was assassinated, a group of students, faculty, and staff petitioned campus administrators to name the new law building after him. They wanted to honor his memory and to symbolize the School of Law's dedication to social justice and public service. The following year, the building was officially christened Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Hall in a ceremony presided over by Chief Justice of the United States Earl Warren. "In this fractured and strident world in which we live, there could be no finer symbol of justice at a law school than to have its house of learning bear the name of the gentle Martin Luther King, Jr.," Chief Justice Warren said at the dedication. "Even in the naming of the building, one can sense the high purpose to which its facilities are to be dedicated."

Our connection to Dr. King's legacy has been reinforced over the years as his family members and associates have come to King Hall on numerous occasions. Dr. King's widow, Coretta Scott King, delivered the commencement address for our Class of 1981, and his son Martin Luther King III visited King Hall in 1986. Dr. Clarence B. Jones, who served as counsel and speechwriter for Dr. King and helped compose the "I Have a Dream" speech, lectured here in 2013. Congressman John Lewis, a colleague of Dr. King who helped organize the historic March on Selma, spoke at our 50th anniversary commencement ceremony.

In addition, our building includes a number of unique features related to Dr. King. His statue, sculpted by artist Lisa Reinertson, graces the entrance, standing alongside a touch-screen video exhibit on his life and career. Quotations from Dr. King's speeches are prominently displayed on the walls upstairs.

Most importantly, Dr. King's ideals continue to inspire our community. We can all take pride in having the only "majority-minority" faculty of any American law school, except for those affiliated with historically black institutions or those in Puerto Rico. Year after year, our students work thousands of hours to provide access to justice for the underserved. Our alumni, so many of whom pursue careers in public service or perform pro bono work, also make us proud. King Hall is truly making a difference in our community, our state, and our world.

I hope you will enjoy your Martin Luther King Day holiday, and I look forward to working together to help realize Dr. King's dream in the years to come.