UF President Kent Fuchs walked with students Wednesday night across campus, taking a look at voting rights through U.S. history.
To kick off the start of a month-long celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Black History Month, he and about 50 students and community members gathered at the Institute of Black Culture to march across UF’s campus. About 20 posters were scattered across the walk. Each poster represented a voting milestone throughout history. Participants lit their candles at the poster that represented their historical ability to vote based on race, gender, age and hometown.
As Fuchs walked with students, he lit his candle at the first poster, which granted him the right to vote. The poster granted white men over the age of 21 who owned property the right to vote in 1776. He was one of two who lit a candle.
“Right at the beginning, it was an emotional experience,” he said, walking along with the students.
During the ceremony, Fuchs said he became emotional knowing many students weren’t able to light candles until the end of the walk.
Elyssa Kelly, a 21-year-old UF biochemistry junior, lights her candle during the Institute of Black Culture to march across UF’s campus in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 13, 2016. Participants to the vigil were allowed to light candles at different times throughout the walk, signifying their right to vote based on their race, gender, age and hometown.
Most students, such as Yareliz Mendez-Zamora, couldn’t light their candles until later in the walk. When the 21-year-old UF history and English senior was finally able to light her candle, she smiled.
Demarcus Merritt, a member of the MLK steering committee that helped organize the vigil, said the event helps celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.’s progress for the U.S.
“Dr. King wasn’t just fighting for black people, he was fighting for all of mankind,” Merritt said.
On the chilly night, they huddled together and read the posters along the way to the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom, where the participants reflected on the history of voting rights.
Fuchs said racism still exists on college and university campuses despite the progress the U.S. has made.
“Universities can and should be a hub for this leadership. All students are welcome and belong at UF,” he said.
Fuchs said he doesn’t have all the answers to solving inequality, but students play an important role moving forward.
“Together, we can solve this problem,” he said
Contact Melissa Gomez at mgomez@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @Melissagomez004.
About 50 participants came together on Jan. 13, 2016 at the Institute of Black Culture to walk through UF’s campus, lighting candles along the way and kicking off a month-long celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History month.
