NBC 5’s LeeAnn Trotter reports.
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This day of service has become quite an event.
The memorial is scheduled to be unveiled on August 5, the 50th anniversary of the Marquette Park march.
At the end of the day Martin says, if nothing else, this provides an opportunity to speak to the next generation about the life of Dr. King.
“Marching keeps the dream alive”, Annette Graves said.
“We need to deal with issues that Dr. King dedicated his life for, for example, we don’t have a civil rights commission for the State of Colorado that protects the rights of citizens”.
Several people who attended the ceremony want everyone to know that Doctor’s King’s holiday is more than just a day off from school or work.
The event included appearances by all three main Democratic presidential candidates – Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley – and heavier police presence.
It was those words in Martin Luther King Junior’s “I Have a Dream” speech that has left a lasting impression on our society.
Most schools in mid-Michigan and all government offices are closed today in honor of the civil rights leader.
As people walked through downtown Kingsport they wanted to bring light to Dr. King’s message, while creating one of their very own. “We can not forget this date…no matter where we are, what we’re doing”, said Harriet Mars Gray.
Patricia Ann Hunter says she hasn’t missed a march in 30 years, “It means a lot because as right here and now, he made me who I am and gave me a lot of rights that I didn’t have”, said Hunter.
“We have to make sure that we’re all nice to each other, don’t really check each other due to their color anymore”, said 10-year-old girl scout, Rahyna Nyers.
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We’ve come a long way and we still have a long way to go, but by trying to take on each day with the mentality that you’re going to improve someone else’s day, we can continue to make progress.
