LCAAHC
Martin Luther King Jr.
Day Celebration
January 16,2023
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I Have a Dream…
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed; “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of theircharacter.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose Governor’s lips are presently dripping with words of interposition and nullifi- cation, will be transformed into situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters andbrothers.
History of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
It took 15 years to create the federal Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday. Congressman John Conyers, Democrat from Michigan, first introduced legislation for a commemorative holiday four days after King was assassinated in 1968. After the bill became stalled, petitions endorsing the holiday containing six million names were submitted to Congress.
Conyers and Rep. Shirley Chisholm, Democrat from New York resubmitted King holiday legislation each subsequent legislative session. Public pressure for the holiday mounted 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. A compromise moving the holiday from January 15h, King’s birthday, which was considered too close to Christmas and New YearsDay, to the third Monday in January, helped overcome opposition to the law.
On January 17, 2000, for the first time, Martin Luther King Day was officially observed in all 50 states.
M.L. KING, JR. COMMUNITY CELEBRATION DAY!
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When: Monday, January 16, 2023
Where: London Community Center
Schedule of Festivities Includes:
Children's Program: 10 a.m.-3:00p.m.
Activities: 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Courthouse Program: 5:15 p.m.
The March to the Community Center at
5:30 p.m.
Program at Community Center begins at 5:45p.m.
Please join us on this day of celebration!
EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO ATTEND
For more information contact
(606) 224-8111 or (606) 309-6379
Afternoon Program
Meet at Courthouse.…………….…………………..5:15 p.m.
Opening Prayer……………………………….Kayden Powell
Welcome…………………………….Mayor, Randell Weddle
Judge Exec. David Westerfield
March to the London Community Center
Group March Song………….....…..This Little Light Of Mine
Presentation of Colors………….North& South LaurelROTC
National Anthem…………….……………..…..Phoebe White
Prayer………………………….…………….Pastor,Rob Hale
Locust Grove Christian Church
Scripture…………………………………….Kristoffer Powell
Song…………………………….…………...Makayla Weaver
Reading of Dr. King’s Speech
Introduction of Guest Speaker byLanetta Carson
Guest Speaker…………………….…..Pastor, Sonnye Gibson
Essay Winners Presented by…………………Debbye Allen
Honorees Presented by………………………..Wayne Riley
Performance by…………...Madison Evans & Reese Holliday
Song……………………………………………Phoebe White
Closing Prayer………………….…….……….Dwayne Issacs
Laurel County African American Heritage Center
The LCAAHC is located in the Old Mill Street Church which was saved from being condemned by the efforts and construction skills of members. The building is currently undergoing renovations.
Future plans for the building include adding restrooms, an office, storage space and an outdoor patio.
The main hall will serve as a meeting place and a public archives with history exhibits that tell the history of African-Americans in Laurel County and highlight some of the archive’s treasured photographs and artifacts.
The LCAAHC was found by Director, Wayne Riley in2004 in honor of his late aunt, Lutishia Riley Bailey, in order to preserve African-American heritage and history in Laurel County. Our trustees and volunteers are currently working to remodel the historic Mill Street Baptist Church in London. The Center is also accepting monetary or material donations to aid withremodeling.
If you would like further information about LCAAHC, please call
Wayne Riley at 606-224-8111