On January 14, the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Assembly took place in the Naperville Performing Arts Center during third period. A crowd of students and faculty gathered together to watch several performances, including musical performances by Dion Lacie and Alex Gray, a dance done by a group of girls from North Elite Dance Crew and a speech from a guest speaker.

Junior Alia Trannon performed a monologue, playing the part of Coretta Scott King, Martin Luther King Jr.’s wife. She focused on King as a person and what he stood for.

Senior Isaia Robinson, one of many audience members, said his favorite part was when they had all the different clubs at NNHS stand up at the end.

“It held a strong meaning for me because it shows unity and diversity through all the different organizations at North,” Robinson said.

Broderick Booth, the assistant principal of Pupil Personnel Services at Thornton South High School, gave a speech about what King’s message was and how it impacts society today. He began his presentation by having the audience repeat after him–“I am, because we are.”

Booth educated the audience about concepts that King preached, such as the six principles of nonviolence, and why they are still remembered today.

“His message is still being heard because we still have to fight for something,” Booth said. “That message of justice is always going to be there.”