Paul Pribbenow: ‘Justice cannot be separated from human dignity’

Paul C. Pribbenow, president of Augsburg University, delivered these remarks at Augsburg’s 39th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation at Hoversten Chapel on January 19, 2026.

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Good afternoon, Augsburg community—students, faculty, staff, alumni, neighbors, and friends.

Today we come together on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a moment to reflect on the enduring legacy of Dr. King—on his vision of justice, his call to courageous action, and his unshakable belief that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

This year, celebrating Dr. King’s life and work takes on particular urgency here in the Twin Cities.

In recent weeks, our region has been the focus of one of the largest federal immigration enforcement operations in U.S. history, with up to 2,000 agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and other departments mobilized across Minneapolis–St. Paul. Federal authorities describe the operation as the largest ever and say it targets alleged immigration fraud and individuals with outstanding orders of removal.

This federal presence has reverberated far beyond law-enforcement circles. We have seen protests grow into the tens of thousands as community members voice grief and outrage—particularly following the shooting death of Renée Nicole Good, a Minneapolis resident killed during an ICE enforcement action, which has become a rallying point for calls for accountability and justice.

Many in our own Augsburg community have felt the impact directly. Last December, federal immigration officers entered our campus and detained a student in a parking lot without a warrant, an action I publicly condemned as unlawful and inconsistent with our core values of dignity and due process.

These events raise profound questions about who is safe in our city and in our campus community—and what justice looks like in practice.

Dr. King taught that the arc of the moral universe bends toward justice only when people of conscience act. He understood that justice cannot be separated from human dignity—that policies and tactics that instill fear, erode trust, or divide communities must be confronted with moral clarity, compassion, and courage.

So today, I reaffirm Augsburg University’s commitment to:

• Standing for the dignity of every human being. Our mission calls us to support the whole person—not just in words, but through policies and action that protect the rights and humanity of all who study, work, and live here.
• Defending academic freedom and sanctuary for learning. Our campuses must be spaces of inquiry, safety, and belonging. No student or scholar should feel unsafe seeking an education or walking across this quad because of where they were born, whom they love, or how they came to this country.
• Advocating for justice grounded in law and human rights. We believe in fairness, due process, and adherence to law—not only in laws that protect public safety but also in those that protect civil liberties and human rights. Justice without mercy is neither just nor merciful.

On this MLK Day, let us remember that Dr. King’s dream was not only about racial equality—it was about extending full human dignity to every person. That means speaking for those whose voices are muted by fear. It means standing with neighbors whose rights and sense of safety have been shaken. And it means working together—across differences—to build a community that truly reflects our best values.

As I look out at this community, I see the courage, heart, and commitment that Dr. King called forth in all of us. May this day be not just a commemoration, but a renewal of our shared work for justice, peace, and beloved community.

Thank you.