"Civil unrest is still happening. I don't know why it's still happening. People obviously must still have hatred and anger in their hearts," she continued. "You don't have to hate a person for the color of their skin. We don't want hate. We just want the basic rights of any human being: a nice place to live, raise your family, equal playing fields at our jobs and good schools for our children to go to."
However, even with tragedies like Floyd's killing happening to African Americans, Dugas said she is still optimistic that society can come away with the positive and nonviolent messages that King professed.
"Yes, we do have injustice and civil unrest at times, but we do have to teach the younger generation that it will be a better place for them in the future if we follow Dr. King's philosophies, that it's not just one race or one color, that we're all together."
King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968 by escaped fugitive James Earl Ray, setting off deadly racial violence across America.
In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the King Holiday Bill into law, making Martin Luther King Day a federal holiday.
While Martin Luther King Day is a US celebration, Dugas said King's message is one that is relevant around the globe, especially in current times as the Russia-Ukraine war continues.
"Overseas -- like with Russia and Ukraine -- if Dr. King was still alive now, he would be against the war, and he would promote unity and peace across the world," said Dugas. "He emphasized peace, love and unity. We are all created equal and we all are a human race and we should share respect and love one another."
On the most basic level, Dugas said that every person in society -- regardless of race, color, ethnicity, or religious background -- can do his or her part to make the world a better place, just like King did his entire life.
"Being kind to one another, smiling at someone. It's just a little token of love you can give to others that can go so many ways," said Dugas. "One person can make a difference. MLK was one person, but he made a huge difference that has transcended around the world."
To make sure King's legacy and teachings are not forgotten, Dugas expressed the importance of teaching the younger generation to not forget about the sacrifices he made to fight for the civil rights of those who once did not have a voice in society.
"Everyone, no matter where they live, needs to recognize all his kind acts that he's done. It's a philosophy that should be shared around the world," said Dugas. "To teach children and our young people and to show the world we can all come together to express what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. represents, that we want to be treated with dignity and respect."
"We can all get along."
