“William Barber is the closest person we have to Martin Luther King Jr. in our midst."  — Dr. Cornel West 

The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, minister, civil rights leader, and social justice advocate, will be the keynote speaker at the University’s 25th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Address on Thursday, January 29, 2026. Rev. Barber is founder, president and senior lecturer of Repairers of the Breach, a national organization whose mission is to build moral movements for social change. He is also co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, an anti-poverty organization, and the founding director of the Center for Public Theology & Public Policy at Yale Divinity School.

Rev. Barber's address is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the Frederick Douglass Commons Feldman Ballroom on the River Campus. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. Following the address, Rev. Barber will be available for a meet & greet and book signing as time allows. Rev. Barber's books, among other titles, will be available for purchase from Barnes & Noble and Hipocampo Children's Books.

All are welcome to attend this free event. Registration is required. The registration deadline is Thursday, January 22 at 11:00 pm. 

Presented annually since 2001, this public keynote honoring Dr. King’s legacy challenges our community to reflect, engage, and act in the pursuit of a better world. The 2026 address is cosponsored by the Office of the President, the Office of University Engagement and Enrichment, and the Office of Mentoring and Student Advocacy.

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To enrich your day of reflection and celebration, we encourage you to consider attending RIT's annual Expressions of King's Legacy program at 12:00 pm, just a few hours before Rev. Barber's commemorative address. RIT's speaker will be Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr., scholar, political commentator, and New York Times bestselling author. Register here to attend their event, which is also free and open to the public.