{"id":40562,"date":"2025-12-18T09:00:58","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T14:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/?p=40562"},"modified":"2025-12-22T12:52:40","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T17:52:40","slug":"south-african-justice-leona-theron-to-speak-at-furmans-mlk-community-breakfast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/south-african-justice-leona-theron-to-speak-at-furmans-mlk-community-breakfast\/","title":{"rendered":"South African Justice Leona Theron to speak at Furman\u2019s MLK Community Breakfast"},"content":{"rendered":"

Leona Theron, a judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, will be the keynote speaker at Furman University\u2019s 2026 MLK Community Breakfast.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The breakfast begins at 8 a.m. on Jan. 16 in the Younts Conference Center on Furman\u2019s campus. The program features performances by the Furman University and Clemson University gospel ensembles, with remarks from Furman President Elizabeth Davis, Joeph Vaughn Scholar and health sciences major Amiya Young \u201926 and Director of Community Relations, Outreach and Impact Chandra Dillard.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Each year, Furman invites the community to join students, faculty and staff in honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Tickets are available for $50 per person and $400 for a table of eight. Furman employees may use discount code “FurmanMLK2026” during check out for 50% off the total price. Click here to register.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Proceeds support the Furman Black Alumni Council Scholarship.<\/span> This year’s theme is “Building the Beloved Community through Democracy and Discourse.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Theron will join Furman students, faculty and staff the day before for a fireside chat at 5 p.m. Jan. 15 in the Watkins Room of the Trone Student Center for the Cultural Life Program \u201cLaw and Leadership Worldwide: An Evening with Justice Theron.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In 1999, Theron was appointed to the KwaZulu-Natal Division of South Africa\u2019s High Court, becoming the division\u2019s first Black, female judge and the youngest judge in the country. In 2010 she became the youngest member of the Supreme Court of Appeal, before being appointed a justice in the country\u2019s highest court in 2017.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Theron is known for her leading judgements and defense of women\u2019s rights, as well as her work in administrative law and children\u2019s rights. She\u2019s received numerous awards for her contributions to the development of justice in South Africa, and is a sought-after speaker, globally. She\u2019s also an avid hiker who has summited Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The MLK Breakfast is one of several Furman events honoring King\u2019s legacy. Other activities include:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n