‘I don’t need allies, I need disruptors’: Statehouse celebrates MLK’s legacy

• By Schyler Altherr, TheStatehouseFile.com
• Jan 16, 2024 

Dr. Russell J. Ledet co-founded The 15 White Coats, an organization that helps minority students in the medical field.

Sixty-one years since Dr. King proclaimed his dream, Indiana celebrated its 33rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration.

Gov. Eric Holcomb speaks at the 33rd Annual State of Indiana Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration on Thursday.

This year, the celebration was held in the Indiana Statehouse’s North Atrium before a crowd of people filled the seats in front of the stage and watched from the railings of the upper floors. It took place on Thursday due to the legislature not meeting on MLK Day Monday.

The ceremony, the theme of which was “altruism,” meaning devotion to others’ welfare, began with the men of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity presenting a wreath in front of the stage. Then the halls of the state capitol began to fill with the voices of the North Central “Northernaires” choir singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The singing could be heard as far away as the Senate Chamber.

The 33rd Annual State of Indiana Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration took place Thursday at the Indiana Statehouse.

Gov. Eric Holcomb spoke to the crowd and handed out multiple awards for civil service. All the people honored were chosen as examples of Hoosiers walking in the footsteps of King.

“Today he continues to inspire millions,” said Holcomb.

Kendra Nowell is presented with the 2024 Rev. Charles Williams Award by Gov. Eric Holcomb on Thursday. Nowell is the CEO of Community Alliance of the Far Eastside.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Russell J. Ledet, born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, who made his career in the medical field after having served in the military. He became the first African American man to be accepted to Indiana University’s exclusive triple-board residency program. He is also the co-founder of The 15 White Coats, an organization that helps minority students in the medical field.

“I am about as ordinary as can be, I have just been able to do some extraordinary things,” said Ledet on why he could speak to Dr. King’s legacy.

Ledet spoke of discrimination in the medical field and of the impact of the murder of George Floyd.

Dr. Russell J. Ledet was the keynote speaker at the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration at the Indiana Statehouse.

“I hope you are uncomfortable and pissed off,” he said about having difficult conversations revolving around racism.

“I don’t need allies, I need disruptors.”

Ledet encouraged people not to wait for the next incident to happen but instead to be angry about the things that happen to marginalized communities today. He highlighted the importance of the work of the award recipients.

“If you have time to post, you can volunteer,” said Ledet on what the average person can do to become a “disrupter.”

After Ledet finished and the crowd applauded, the Northernaires again filled the Indiana Statehouse with music.

FOOTNOTE:  Schyler Altherr is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.