Martin Luther King III, the eldest son of the civil rights activist Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., will visit St. Joseph and Benton Harbor on Tuesday, Nov. 19, as the honored guest and speaker at a celebration of the double unveiling of monuments dedicated to his father.
The unveiling celebration is part of the Unified Civic Monuments Project, the goal of which is to raise “public art in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in southwest Michigan.”
"Because of Benton Harbor's and St. Joseph's united commitment to their devoted giving, The Unified Civic Monuments Project stands proud and eternally grateful to deliver the fruit of these gifts back to the people," said Sharon Brown, one of the founders and directors of the African American History & Literature Gallery in Benton Harbor.
The event will also feature a gospel choir performance by the Deliverance Mass Choir of Andrews University, aiming to uplift the spirit of unity and hope in line with King’s legacy.
The festivities will begin at 10:45 a.m. with an unveiling ceremony at the monument site in the Margaret B. Upton Arboretum in St. Joseph. At 11 a.m., all are invited to march with the Benton Harbor and St. Joseph high school bands to the Benton Harbor Dwight P. Mitchell City Center Park for the unveiling ceremony at 11:30 a.m.
At 1:30 p.m., a special, free Lake Michigan College Speakers Series event featuring King will be held at the LMC Mendel Center in Benton Harbor. During the event, "A Conversation with Martin Luther King III," King will discuss a variety of topics, including the importance of the continuing struggle for civil rights and the significance of individual action in making his father's dream a reality.
Reservations for the event are encouraged to ensure a seat, although they are not required. Free tickets are available here.
This article is based on a press release that the Student Movement received.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.