The legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. continues this week as the world celebrates his 79th birthday. The community relations department of Champaign County also did its part by honoring Dr. King with a county-wide celebration.

An event titled “Transforming Our Communities Through Peace and Justice” was held in Champaign at the Hilton Hotel Friday and was open to the general public. The major highlights of the program were the performance by the Black Chorus, directed by Dr. Ollie Watts Davis, and the keynote speech by Joyce E. Tucker, the Boeing Corporation’s vice president of Global Diversity and Employee Rights.

Several such programs are held around the country during this time in honor of Dr. King. Dorone Edwards, sophomore in LAS, said he has visited similar services in Dr. King’s hometown of Atlanta, Ga.

When asked about his opinion of the relevance of the holiday, Edwards said that while he thought there was always room for improvement, “(essentially), because of him, I’m here today.”

Edwards said he had not been informed of the event in Champaign, but planned to celebrate the holiday by watching a screening of “Why Did I Get Married” in the Illini Union.

Some students, however, were unable to attend Friday’s celebration.

Courtney Winfrey, junior in AHS, said that even though she would be working during the celebration, the time is one of reflection.

“As an African-American woman, I have the privilege of attending this school because of him,” Winfrey said.

She was reminded of a situation which makes the celebration relevant even today.

“I got into a heated argument with a woman who said that I didn’t deserve to go (to the University),” she said. “I was being judged (only) by the color of my skin.”

Winfrey also said she felt that the holiday held some relevance to the student community specifically.

“I feel that on this campus we are drawn into a cultural box, and no one is willing to stick out a hand,” she said.

Students of non-African-American descent also associate with the holiday.

“I feel that it is very important to remember Dr. King because it gives us hope for change,” said Nareman Abdallah, senior in LAS. “And as a Palestinian, or someone being oppressed, that’s an inspiration.”