In 1990, Idaho became the 47th state to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Until state legislation passed, Boise State also did not recognize the holiday. The year before, Black Student Union President Eric Love organized a march to the Statehouse in support of MLK Day in which more than 700 students participated. Human rights activist Bill Wassmuth spoke at the rally, and sang “We Shall Overcome” with the people there. Once Idaho’s Congress made MLK Day an official holiday, students at BSU used the opportunity to raise awareness for human rights issues and topics surrounding race, LGBT rights, and religious tolerance. Every year since then, students have created multicultural panels, performed, made speeches, curated photo exhibits, and held workshops throughout the week of Martin Luther King’s birthday.
Sources:
The Arbiter: January 22, 1990; January 21, 1991; January 28, 1991; January 21, 1992.
Written by Rachel Taylor, Summer 2019 intern