Events planned to honor MLK Jr.

A full slate of activities have been planned throughout Greater New Orleans to mark the annual observance of the Martin Luther King Jr, National Holiday.

The celebration kicked off last week with a musical tribute to Dr. King at Dillard Thursday and the annual wreath-laying at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on M.L.K. Jr. Blvd. in uptown New Orleans.

Internationally known author, scholar and civil rights activist Angela Davis was the keynote speaker at the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center’s 9th Annual Fit for a King Conference on Friday, Jan. 15. The conference theme was “Bringing Justice Home”Fair Housing in an Era of Discrimination and Growing inequality.”

The city’s annual MLK Day observance has been set for Monday, January 18, with a march and program.

The Landrieu administration and the New Orleans Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Planning Commission last week announced the schedule of events for the City’s 30th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. The official events began on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016 and include a wreath-laying ceremony, jazz concert, a service project and a memorial service. The theme of this year’s festivities is, “Reflect, Reconcile, Rebuild.”

“As we approach this time of year, reflecting on Dr. King’s legacy, it is important to think about our nation’s progress juxtaposed with the challenges we still face today,” said Mayor Landrieu. “In the spirit of Dr. King, we must agree to come together, face problems head-on and do for others so that New Orleans and America can live up to the hopes and dreams of all her people.”

The Rev. Norwood Thompson, chair of the New Orleans Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Planning Commission, said, “Each year on the third Monday of January, our nation celebrates the beloved Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We remember his fight for a nonviolent revolution across our nation and we encourage all New Orleanians to use this opportunity to help us serve with a heart of grace and soul generated by love.”

The Martin Luther King Jr. Day events are free and open to the public. The main program on Martin Luther King Jr., Day will begin at the New Orleans City Hall on Monday, Jan. 18, 2016 at 9 a.m., followed by the 30th annual MLK Memorial March at 10 a.m.

The nearly 1½ mile-long march starts at City Hall, 1300 Perdido Street, proceeds down Loyola Avenue / Simon Bolivar Boulevard toward uptown, and then makes a right turn on MLK Boulevard. The parade then continues on MLK Boulevard to South Claiborne and ends at MLK Monument on South Claiborne and Felicity. Dillard University will celebrate the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Holiday with events of song, service and sermon. The activities begin on Thursday, January 14, with a Gospel Concert: A tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The activities conclude on January 20, with the Rev. Dr. Michael Louis Pfleger, senior pastor of The Faith Community of Saint Sabina in Chicago, as the guest preacher for the Martin Luther King Jr., Worship Service in Lawless Memorial Chapel at 7 p.m.

Other events include concerts, an art exhibit and a day of community service.

Pfleger, the guest preacher for the Martin Luther King Jr., Worship Service on Wednesday, January 20, is a nationally known social activist with an unwavering stance against injustices. His outspoken condemnation of violence was portrayed by John Cusack as Father Mike Corridan in Chi-Raq, a 2015 movie by Spike Lee. One of Pfleger’s biggest issues has been the easy access to guns and the violence that is snatching the lives of children across the country. He has long toiled for the betterments of others. Since 1968, Father Pfleger, a German-American, has lived and ministered in African-American communities on both the west and south sides of Chicago.

For additional information, visit dillard.edu.

Xavier University will host a MLK Jr. tribute in its University Center Ballroom on Friday, Jan. 22, at 7:00 p.m. that will include spoken word, dance and more.

This article originally published in the January 18, 2016 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.