Several major networks and newspapers are expected to join over 800 students, faculty and community members to participate in the annual candlelight march to honor civil rights martyr Martin Luther King Jr.

The theme of this year’s march is “The Power of a Dream.” It will begin at 4 p.m. Tuesday in front of Stevenson Towers North.

The march will begin with the ceremonial cutting of a ribbon. The procession will be led by inspirational songs sung by the NIU Black Choir.

One of the events coordinators Maurice Thomas said, “The songs will be inspirational and well-known so hopefully everyone can sing along.”

As the procession continues there will be various pickup points along the way including stops at Grant Towers South, Douglas Residence Hall and along Lucinda Avenue.

The procession will end at Carl Sandburg Auditorium. As participants enter the auditorium they will be able to hear King’s inspirational “I Have a Dream” speech.

Following at 5:15 p.m., Rev. Tyrone Crider, former national executive director of Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity), will address the audience.

Other speakers include NIU Student Association President Paul Middleton and Stacy Dolby representing campus ministries.

Many surrounding colleges also have been invited to attend this monumental event.

At the end of the program refreshments will be served in the Holmes Student Center Regency Room.

This year’s march will be videotaped. During the ceremony, papers will be passed around the auditorium for participants to sign. These pages will then be combined into a guest book and kept by the NAACP.

Van Amos, program coordinator for the Center for Black Studies, said, “The book is a way to acknowledge people who supported us and to keep for a momento.”