By Doug Draper
In the week leading up to what would have been Martin Luther King’s 82nd birthday, Buffalo, New York’s Downtown Library is hosting a free event commemorating the life of American civil rights leader.
The late American civil rights leader Martin Luther King.
The Buffalo library’s tribute ceremony will take place on Thursday, January 13, four days before the January 17 Martin Luther King Day commemorated by countless millions across the United States.
King played a leadership role in breaking down racial barriers in 1950s and 60s America when it came to desegregating schools and other public and private institutions, and in finally guaranteeing African Americans the right to vote a century after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation ending slavery.
One of the world’s leading advocates for non-violent protest at the time, King was assassinated in 1968. We all received a wake-up call around violence and assassination with the tragic attempted assassination of Arizona Congresswoman Gabriell Giffords and the killing of six other people by another in what seems like a continuous stream of disturbed people in America who are able to still go into a store and purchase a lethal weapon.
Niagara At Large is pleased to post the following media release on the free event Buffalo’s downtown library is hosting in honor the civil rights leader.
TRIBUTE TO MARTIN LUTHER KING, Jr. PLANNED – Downtown Library Hosts Free Ceremony on January 13
Slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. will be remembered during a tribute ceremony at the downtown Central Library on Thursday, January 13, 2011 from 11:45 – 1:00 p.m.
Presented by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System, this free event, now in its 32nd year, takes place in the “Ring of Knowledge” on the downtown Central Library’s main floor and will feature music, story-telling, readings and presentations honoring the prominent clergyman and activist on the anniversary of his birthday. The program features:
· · Music begins at 11:45 a.m. by the Colored Musicians Club
· · Welcome & Introductions –
Bridget Quinn –Carey, director, Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System
· · Master of Ceremonies –
Former Buffalo Common Council member Clifford Bell, community activist, poet
and small business advisor
· · Readings & Poetry –
Miguel Santos, National Grid Community Outreach Coordinator
Louz Garcia, Key Bank manager, Bailey Avenue branch
• Musical selection –
Colored Musicians Club
· · Story Teller Sharon Holley
· · Vocal performance –
Pastor Angela Stewart, Library employee
· · Presentation –“What was Dr. Kings’ message & What it means today”
Students from Bennett Park Montessori School
• Keynote speaker –
Arlee Daniels, chairman, Stop the Violence Coalition
· · Closing remarks – Clifford Bell
The program is subject to change.
For more information on the Buffalo Library System and its upcoming events visit – http://www.buffalolib.org/ .
(Visit Niagara At Large at www.niagaraatlarge.com for more news and commentary on matters of interest and concern to our greater binational Niagara region.)
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