Once called “the leading nonviolence theorist in the world” by Martin Luther King Jr., the Rev. James Lawson plans to speak on campus today at a discussion and later at the 2007 Thurgood Marshall Lecture and Dinner on Law and Human Rights.
Lawson, a preeminent civil rights activist, is expected to discuss civil and human rights, choosing whichever specific topics he wants, said Alex Tucker, special projects and development coordinator of the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African Studies at UCLA.
“He is definitely one of the more distinguished civil rights leaders. He’s walked in march with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. He was there at the forefront, and he was a student of Ghandi philosophy,” Tucker said.
The event, which is a benefit to the Bunche Center, consists of a discussion, reception and lecture.
“The lecture is more formal. … The discussion is more informal, so students and whoever else will be able to ask him questions,” said Letisia Marquez, a university spokeswoman.
The discussion is planned for 12:30 in Haines 135, and the reception will begin at 5:30 in Covel Commons followed by the lecture.
Tucker said the discussion is geared toward UCLA students, faculty and staff and will be about one hour long, including a question-and-answer session.
Tucker said he expects both the discussion and formal lecture to be popular.
“From what I’m hearing, (the discussion) should be a full house,” he said, adding that he expects the lecture will be “much more refined.”
Douglass Johnson, chairman of the Afrikan Student Union, said ASU is excited for Lawson’s visit to campus.
“We appreciate that he’s coming out,” Johnson said. “He’s a man who stands for peace; he actually dedicated his whole life toward the nonviolence movement.”
Johnson said he plans to attend both the discussion and formal lecture and hopes to hear Lawson talk about King.
“He was there when Martin Luther King was assassinated, so I wanted to know what was that like,” he said.
Johnson also said he would like to ask Lawson for his take on King’s last book, “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?”
Lawson has taught African American studies courses and courses in the UCLA Center for Labor Research and Education, Tucker said.
This year, Lawson is a distinguished visiting professor at Vanderbilt University, where he was once a student. He was expelled from Vanderbilt in 1960 when the university’s chancellor gave him a choice between expulsion or ceasing involvement in civil rights lunch-counter sit-ins ““ and Lawson chose expulsion.
He later received his bachelor’s degree in sacred theology from Boston University and returned to Vanderbilt in 1970 to pursue a doctor of ministry degree.
Vanderbilt has since established the James M. Lawson Jr. Chair to honor Lawson.
Lawson is also pastor emeritus of Holman United Methodist Church, which is one of many sponsors of today’s event.