Martin Luther King Jr.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Jan 15, 2014 | Cultural, Local(SWM)

On Monday January 20, Americans from diverse backgrounds and communities will celebrate the life and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who fought for equality and justice. He dedicated his life to ending racism and all forms of discrimination. In 1968, Dr. King was on an environmental justice mission for Memphis striking sanitation workers. He was murdered by an assassin’s bullet before he could complete his mission.

Today, we are still confronted with injustices that threatens the lives of millions of African-Americans and other people of color.

A 15 year battle, Congressman John Conyers, Democrat from Michigan, petitioned for 15 years and introduced legislation for a commemorative holiday four days after King was assassinated in 1968. After the bill became stalled, a collection of six million names were submitted to Congress.

Conyers and Rep. Shirley Chisholm, Democrat of New York, resubmitted King holiday legislation each subsequent legislative session. Public pressure for the holiday gained momentum during the 1982 and 1983 civil rights marches in Washington.

Congress passed the holiday legislation in 1983, which was then signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. MLK Day is celebrated on the third Monday of January.

Check local listings for MLK celebration activities throughout Kalamazoo and surrounding communities.

Community Invited to 28th Annual MLK Celebration

Dec 26, 2013 | Cultural, Local News, Local(SWM), SW Michigan/Local Hispanic News

Kalamazoo, MI- The Northside Ministerial Alliance would like to invite all clergy, community leaders and the public to attend the 28^th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration! This year’s celebration will be held on Sunday, January 19, 2014, beginning at 4:00 p.m., at the Galilee Baptist Church. Our theme this year is: “Unfulfilled Dreams.” We are honored to have as our guest speaker, Dr. Michael Nabors, Pastor of Mt. Calvary Baptist in Detroit, MI.

The theme for this year’s celebration, “Unfulfilled Dreams”. Speakers will include, Dr. Michael Nabors of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Detroit, MI.

2013 Detroit MLK Day Rally and March for “Jobs, Peace & Justice”

Dec 16, 2012 | Music News, News, World News

Detroit MLK Day Begins Commemoration of 50th Anniversary of Great March to Freedom (1963-2013)

This year’s Detroit Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day March & Rally will represent the 10th annual commemoration held at the Historic Central United Methodist Church. This is the church where Dr. King delivered his annual Lent sermons and preached three weeks prior to his assassination on April 4, 1968.

2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the “Great March to Freedom” in Detroit where 250,000 or more walked down Woodward Avenue demanding jobs and civil rights. This demonstration held on June 23, 1963, was the scene where Dr. King delivered his first “I Have a Dream” speech at Cobo Hall. Later that summer on August 28, the historic “March on Washington” was held and Dr. King once again reiterated his dream of equality and freedom.

Fifty years later we still have not achieved his dream or the desires of the majority of people within the oppressed and working communities throughout the U.S. and the world. In Michigan we are facing profound challenges with attacks on unions, the sovereignty of cities and their right to self-determination and self-rule.

Internationally the U.S.-NATO wars against Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Somalia, Libya, Haiti and Syria continue, while our cities are facing mass unemployment, poverty, state-sanctioned violence and hostile takeovers by the banks and corporations through their agents in local and state government. Recent right-to-work laws and revised emergency management legislation will drive even more into economic distress and uncertainty.

Therefore, our clarion call for 2012 is “Renew the Struggle for Jobs, Peace and Justice to Eradicate the Triple Evils of War, Racism and Poverty.” We will gather at Central United Methodist Church beginning at Noon on the federally-designated holiday in honor of the martyred peace, civil rights and social justice activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

We are encouraging the participation of those who were there in June 1963 or those whose parents and grandparents were there. We want to hear and read testimonials from that fateful period which led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

This year’s program will feature presentations from various organizations and activists in Detroit and nationally. We will hold a rally at Noon and march through downtown Detroit beginning at 1:30pm. After the march a community meal will be served at the church and a cultural program held on the second floor.

If you are able to contribute to this event it would be greatly appreciated. Send all checks and money orders to Detroit MLK Committee, 5920 Second Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48202.

To volunteer for that day contact (313) 405-2185.