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Film documents MLK assassination

ROCK TOWNSHIP — Blackhawk Technical College will mark the anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. with a program Monday.

The school will screen the 1993 documentary "America Unites: At the River I Stand," which tells of the events leading up to King's assassination in Memphis, Tenn., on April 4, 1968.

King had gone to Memphis to support sanitation workers who were on strike for better working conditions.

"It's wonderful," said Karla Clark, a member of BTC's Educational Support Professionals union, who has seen the 58-minute film.

The film comes to BTC through union channels, but the event is not meant to be political, Clark said

"Obviously, we're showing it in honor of Martin Luther King's death, but additionally it parallels what's happening today in Wisconsin—labor unrest, our rights being stripped away," Clark said.

Janesville attorney David Feingold, who was involved in civil rights demonstrations in the 1960s, also will speak.

The event is free and open to the public.

Clark, a member of BTC's Diversity Advancement Committee, said this is one of many events across the country that will mark the anniversary. The film would have been shown whether or not the conflict between unions and Republican lawmakers had flared up, she said.

Sponsoring the event are the BTC Diversity Advancement Committee, Blackhawk Technical Faculty Federation, BTC Educational Support Professionals, BTC Student Government and BTC's Multi-Ethnic Cultural Association.

IF YOU GO

What: Screening of the documentary ""America Unites: At the River I Stand," with remarks from attorney David Feingold and an open forum afterward.

When: 4 to 7 p.m. Monday. Schedule—4 to 4:30 p.m., networking/refreshments; 4:30 p.m., documentary viewing; 5:30 to 5:45 p.m., break; 5:45 to 6:15 p.m., "Reflections from a Civil Rights Perspective" with remarks by David Feingold; 6:15 p.m., open microphone.

Where: North Commons at Blackhawk Technical College's central campus, 6004 S. County G, Janesville.