Shaun King will visit UW tonight at 6 p.m. in the Union Ballroom as the keynote speaker for the Good Mule Project.
“We decided to bring Shaun King to campus because we thought it was important for the UW and Laramie communities to be informed about social justice issues that have been happening around the country,” Xanthe Yorke, student coordinator for community engagement at SLCE, said. “He is a prominent voice in the New Civil Rights Movement.”
A senior justice writer for the New York Daily News and Daily Kos, King also frequently appears as a political commentator for The Young Turks and on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. King has used social media extensively to speak on police brutality and racism.
According to King’s website, “He’s adopted social media to rally and unite people of disparate backgrounds. He uses his platform as Senior Justice Writer for New York Daily News to help us stay informed, to unearth the truth beyond local media and to organize in purposeful and directed ways.”
Jonathan Cook, president of the Black Student Alliance RSO on campus said King is an advocate for the black community.
“He is a very knowledgeable individual on a lot of topics and is informed before he makes public statements,” Cook said. “It’s his knowledge and voice that makes him a great advocate for the black community.”
Community engagement is an important aspect of the Good Mule Project.
“In my opinion, it’s not only UW students who should be part of these conversations, but our entire community,” Yorke said. “I think social justice is important even to those who don’t think certain things affect them.”
Cook said King is well qualified to speak on this topic.
“With all his credentials of being a civil rights activist, it’s important to have an individual like Mr. King to speak at this event because he will challenge people to evaluate the current state of discrimination, with its many forms, within our community,” Cook said.
Yorke said the responses to King’s visit have only been positive.
“We have received only positive feedback and optimistic response from people when they learn about his presence on campus,” Yorke said.
The College Republican group failed to comment on King’s visit by press time.
The purpose of the Good Mule Project is to facilitate dialogue and action around issues of multiculturalism and diversity through social justice activism. Each year a group of students organizes the conference, creating a unique atmosphere.
“The Good Mule Project hopes to create an inclusive environment for anyone who wished to take part in or be present for this conference,” According to the Good Mule Project’s website.
On Saturday, the Good Mule Project will be hosting a Social Justice Summit from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“We will be working to develop a collaborative plan to advance social justice issues in the UW and Laramie communities,” according to their website.
Registration is needed in advance for those who would like to attend.
