More than 100 students, faculty and community members gathered Monday at the University of Utah for a march honoring Martin Luther King Jr., many wearing T-shirts and carrying signs emblazoned with the same message: “The time is always right to do what is right.”
The marchers moved forward with quiet determination, a sign at the front reading, “Hate doesn’t drive out hate.” There were no chants — just soft conversation as children rode scooters to keep up or held their parents’ hands, and Utahns of all ages walked together in King’s honor.
Among the marchers was Jamilia Johnson, who attended with Richard Scharine, a former U. professor for whom she cares. She said she heard about the event from him.
“I’m actually his caretaker, but he’s taking care of me,” Johnson joked, before adding that she was impressed by the size of the crowd. “I think it’s beautiful, I think it’s really incredible. I’m really shocked with the turnout.”
(Samantha Moilanen | The Salt Lake Tribune) A girl holds a sign reading “Silence is Betrayal” during a Martin Luther King Jr. march at the University of Utah on Jan. 19, 2026.
The quote printed on the signs and T-shirts was famously said by King, and reflects his call for immediate action against racial injustice — a theme explored by the event’s five panelists and three student speakers who shared essays they wrote about what the holiday means to them.
They spoke at a rally on campus before the march to Kingsbury Hall.
(Samantha Moilanen | The Salt Lake Tribune) Hailee Roberts and Tiare Mitchell greet attendees and hand out signs before a Martin Luther King Jr. march at the University of Utah on Jan. 19, 2026.
One of the student speakers, Kennedy Christi Hawkins, spoke about her admiration for her family’s commitment to responding with kindness when faced with injustice. Though, she said, it has not always been easy.
“I never thought my family would be dealing with this in 2026 but here we are,” Hawkins said.
She described a moment when a boy spat on her 10-year-old sister at school and used a racial slur. Instead of responding with anger, her parents talked to the boy and his family.
“In the end, there was no hate, but love and understanding for each other,” Hawkins said. “The world isn’t perfect and it will never be, but what we can do is help stand up for what’s right, even when it is hard or even uncomfortable.”
Panelist Brandon Johnson, associate dean of the U.’s undergraduate program, said “doing what is right” is often “inconvenient.”
“It rarely shows up in a time where like, ‘Oh, I have 20 minutes to do this,’” Johnson said. “Or, of course, I can go march downtown because I have nothing on my schedule. It’s always an effort and prioritization.”
(Samantha Moilanen | The Salt Lake Tribune) Panelists Mariam Dickerson, from left, Malaika David-Bennett, Brandon Johnson, Gregory Noel and Eddy Thompson speak at a Martin Luther King Jr. march and rally at the University of Utah on Jan. 19, 2026.
Gregory Noel, a mental health provider, said that when he has been treated differently in the workplace, he has had to weigh doing what he believes is right against the risk of losing his job.
“When we talk about standing for what’s right, standing up for what we know to be true, what’s meant to be just,” Noel said. “It comes with a price, and we have to decide, are we okay with the consequences of standing up for what’s right?”
Panelist Mariam Dickerson, a special events planner for the city of Millcreek, said that at work she often initiates conversations about ensuring community events include Black voices. While those conversations can be difficult, she said they are a necessary first step toward meaningful change.
“I think the hardest thing you can do ... is being the one to say, this deserves dialogue. This is something that we’re going to continue talking about,” Dickerson said. “While we can get railroaded by whatever stigma or understanding or expectations people have of you, I think it’s a good point of resistance to continue to have dialogue, even through difficult times.”