January 2010: Q and A with Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles about his memories of Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles is a highly regarded national speaker, addressing groups and organizations throughout the U.S. and abroad. Such audiences have included the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Labor Department, Northwestern University, Cornell University, South African Council of Churches, Society of Black Lawyers (England), and Deutschlandfunk Radio (Germany). In 2000, he was selected to deliver the closing prayer at the Democratic National Convention.

Rev. Kyles has appeared on the television documentaries Who Shot Martin Luther King?, At the River I Stand, The Trial of James Earl Ray, The Last Days of King (CBS), The Century (ABC) and Dateline's Tom Brokaw Eyewitness to History (NBC). He is revered as a resource on the Civil Rights Movement.

Rev. Kyles was an eyewitness to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and is the only person still living who shared the last hour of Dr. King's life with him. His account of this tragic event is captured in the Academy Award nominated HBO film, The Witness; From the Balcony of Room 306.

Come hear Kyles speak about the last hours of King's life in AHAINA, Rasmuson Hall 106 at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 3. Light refreshments will be available.

This event is part of the 2010 Alaska Civil Rights Month. All events are free and open to the public. For a full listing of all the month's events and for more information visit UAA's Office of Campus Diversity and Compliance Web site at www.uaa.alaska.edu/diversity or call (907) 786-4680.

Interpreting services for UAA events are available by contacting (907)786-4680 with at least 48 hours notice.