FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Martin Luther King III, human rights activist and oldest son of the slain civil rights icon, will speak at the University of Arkansas as part of the student-sponsored Distinguished Lecture Series. His lecture will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, in the Fayetteville Town Center, and coincides with the community’s week-long celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life. The lecture is free, open to the public, and no tickets are necessary.

“We feel extremely proud that Martin Luther King III has agreed to speak at the University of Arkansas,” said Dee Dee Brown-Campbell, associate director for athletics academic support, coordinator for diversity initiatives and co-chair of the campus MLK Day committee. “We are eager to hear his thoughts on civil rights, equality and furthering his father’s dream. We feel that his presence here marks a highlight for not only the university community and northwest Arkansas, but for the entire state as well.”

Martin Luther King III has been a strong advocate for equality and justice both in the United States and in the rest of the world. He served as leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference from 1997 to 2004. In 2006 he founded the nonprofit coalition Realizing the Dream to work to end poverty in this country and to campaign for peace and human rights internationally.

“I am very excited that the university is inviting Martin Luther King III to speak,” said Danielle Wood, assistant director of the office of affirmative action and vice president for the Northwest Arkansas Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Planning Committee. “I’m excited the northwest Arkansas community will have a chance to hear what he has to say. Having a speaker of this magnitude speaks volumes about the university’s commitment to diversity. This is a giant step forward and shows the progress we are making, right here, to make Dr. King’s dream a reality.”

The Distinguished Lecture Series is funded by student activity fees, with support from the Associated Student Government and the University of Arkansas. Speakers for the series are chosen by student and faculty members of the Distinguished Lecture Series committee. Past lecturers have included Anderson Cooper, Ervin “Magic” Johnson, George H.W. Bush and Ehud Olmert.