Local celebrations will mark MLK legacy

Marchers, artists, speakers scheduled at events in county.

Inmate escapes sheriff’s car
5/26/12
Cable worker hurt on the job
5/25/12
Beach Waterpark sued for failure to deliver
5/25/12
Lakota to discuss open enrollment proposal
5/25/12
AD resigns to take job at Kettering
5/25/12
> More headlines

By Richard O Jones, Staff Writer Updated 7:56 AM Monday, January 16, 2012

BUTLER COUNTY — For the 26th year, the Hamilton community will honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a march.

“I felt there was a need to recognize him and there was no such recognition locally,” said Victor Davis, who organized the first event and every one since.

The civil rights leader assassinated in 1968 “was the primary leader in the country for social justice, so I thought it would benefit us to recognize his accomplishments and struggle.”

The format of the event has stayed the same through the years, a march leading from the Booker T. Washington to a local church. This year the march will conclude at the Front Street Church of God, where the keynote speech will be given by the Rev. Dr. Dennis Kidd, pastor of the Front Street church.

The only thing that’s changed is after a few years, Davis added the recognition of local students for their academic achievements and for members of the community who have made a social achievement.

“We would like to invite people from across the community to celebrate with us,” Davis said, “any individual or organization who recognizes the need for change and social justice.”

In Oxford, a Peace March will be led by the Alpha Phi Alpha, King’s fraternity when he was in graduate school at Boston College.

According to Juanita Tate of the Miami University Black History Celebration Committee, the assembly will include a brief program featuring readings from King and comments by Miami President David Hodge and Oxford Mayor Richard Keebler.

The march will conclude at Hall Auditorium with a program featuring music by the Oxford Gourd and Drum Ensemble and a keynote address “A Man. A Memory. A Mountaintop” by Miami alumnus Sharon Draper, an educator and author of children’s books.

“Live the Dream: Our Declaration of Unity” will be the topic of a 7 p.m. at Cornerstone United Methodist Church, 7600 Princeton-Glendale Road, featuring performance by a community choir assembled for the occasion and keynote speaker the Rev. Dr. Brian Brown, superintendent for the Ohio River Valley District of the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations and events

Hamilton: Annual march assembles 10 a.m. Monday at the Booker T Washington Community Center, 1140 S. Front St.; march begins 11 a.m. and ends at the Front Street Church of God, 111 S. Front St.; program begins at noon with keynote speaker Dennis Kidd, pastor, Front St. Church of God.

Miami Hamilton downtown: “Sizzle!,” 7 p.m., a variety of singers, speakers, and spoken word artists celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 221 High St., Hamilton.

Oxford: Community March led by Alpha Phi Alpha, King’s fraternity, 10 a.m. beginning in the Uptown Parks, proceeding to Hall Auditorium for 11 a.m. program with music by OGADE and address “A Man. A Memory. A Mountaintop” by Sharon Draper.

Liberty/West Chester Twp: March for Unity, noon, Union Day School, 8735 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, proceeding to West Chester Presbyterian Church. “Live the Dream: Our Declaration of Unity” program, 7 p.m., Cornerstone United Methodist Church, 7600 Princeton-Glendale Road, featuring performance by a community choir and keynote speaker the Rev. Dr. Brian Brown.

Miami University Hamilton: Screening of the film “I Have a Dream,” 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, 114 Rentschler Hall, Multicultural Resource Center. Screening of the film “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – A Historical Perspective,” 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. Remembrance & Reflections Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. Thursday, 114 Rentschler Hall, Multicultural Resource Center; keynote speaker, Dennis Kidd, 1 p.m. RSVP to (513) 785-3024 or chandlkl@muohio.edu.

Share this article