On Monday, Jan. 20, there was a Rally and “marade” held on the SDSU campus with the theme of “Mission Possible,” in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.
Many people celebrated Martin Luther King Day in Brookings by gathering to hear messages surrounding the theme.
The event took place at Club 71 in the Dana J. Dykhouse football stadium, where 12 speakers talked about the impact of Martin Luther King Jr. on the world, society and their own lives.
Denilson Cyprianos is the first student athlete to be an Olympian while still competing as a Jackrabbit for the swim team. Cyprianos spoke to encourage everyone to chase their dreams.
“Maybe life has thrown so much at you that dreaming feels like a luxury. I understand that,” Cyprianos said. “Today as we honor Dr. King, let’s do more than look back on what he accomplished… Whatever your mission is, start.”
Abe Hoskins III is a senior on the football team majoring in computer science.
“As a young black man, I understand the weight of the black man’s history… It’s a history where my ancestors fought to build something from nothing,” Hoskins said.
“MLK built through love, not hatred,” Hoskins added, “Even when the world tells us to be afraid, we can choose to be courageous.”
Thomas Reynolds, a music education major, had the idea to dedicate a road in Brookings to Martin Luther King Jr. in 2022. He had visited museums about slavery and the hotel where MLK was shot, which inspired him.

A road in Pioneer Park will now be named after MLK.
Reynolds said that South Dakota will now join 43 other states with a road or federal building named after Martin Luther King Jr.
The keynote speaker at the event was Jahmal Cole, founder and CEO of My Block, My Hood, My City. Cole grew up in Chicago and had this big dream to make it to the NBA.
“I didn’t make it to the league, but I found my own league in life,” Cole said.
One of the many things that Cole’s organization does is expose students to things. “Their world is their block,” he said. So, Cole works to show them more of the world.
Cole said some people think you have to be willing to die or go to jail, otherwise you’re not an activist. But when he looked up the definition of activist, that’s not what the dictionary said.
“I think that we can all be activists,” Cole said, explaining that everyone can do something simple on their block to make a change.
A student success advisor for the office of multicultural affairs and accessibility, Jay Molock, explained what a “marade” is.
“Martin Luther King Jr. marched in protest. Today, we march in a ‘marade’ – a march and a parade, a celebration. It’s done through singing and chanting,” Molock said.
“Today we recognize what Dr. King did. Today, we stand upon the shoulders of those who came before us,” Molock added.
Following the speaker, the “marade” took place in the SJAC, where students and attendees walked four laps around the track. Many held signs and some did call-and-response chants. During the “marade“ recordings of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches played over the loudspeaker.
Everyone returned to Club 71 after the “marade” for lunch and conversation.
Leah Simpson, a contractor for the Ellsworth Base in Rapid City, and the mother of Lila Simpson, who is involved with Black Student Alliance.
Leah drove from Rapid City to see the event.
“I thought it was really good. I thought the speaker was cool,” Leah said.
This was Leah’s first time at a MLK event. “It was worth the drive.”