According to a recent report published on CNN News, America celebrates its civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. The event will be celebrated at the Browne Education Campus in Washington, on Monday morning in presence of Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle.
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. would have turned 83 years old today if his life hadn’t been cut short by a bullet on April 4, 1968. The morning commemoration will be continued with the Let Freedom Ring Celebration at the Kennedy Center on Monday evening which will also be attended by the first couple of America.
The organizers of the event have confirmed that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will also speak at the King Day at the Dome rally in South Carolina on Monday. The commemorative events aim to celebrate Dr. King’s life and his achievements in the society. Organizers plan to draw attention to the economic and educational equalities in the state and protest the Confederate battle flag flying in front of the state capitol building.
The tradition was first begun in 1986, but in 1994, the Congress decided to designate it a national day of service. The family of the late activist started commemorating him on Sunday. Park rangers placed wreaths around the Washington statue dedicated to the civil rights leader. The King’s family stood beside the statue while crowds sang “Happy Birthday” in memory of the beloved leader.
His son told reporters that the reverend planned to enact a “poor people’s campaign” on his birthday in January 15, 1968. According to the project, all Americans were supposed to have decent jobs with decent pays, but Martin Luther King Jr. did not live to see his plans come to fruition.
The Washington memorial was open to the public last year. Officials are currently preoccupied with a recent controversy created by the quote on the King’s statue. The line says “I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness”, but the original sermon in 1968 was “If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter”. The quote may be modified in the weeks to come in order to give young people an accurate image of the King.
