MLK Awards Ceremony In Anne Arundel Set, Parade Postponed

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Anne Arundel County's largest tribute and celebration of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be held Friday night, Jan. 18. The 31st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Dinner and Reception will begin at 5 p.m.(dinner starts at 6 p.m.) at the La Fontaine Bleue, 7514 Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie.

One event to celebrate King, the annual parade in Annapolis, has been postponed. Mayor Gavin Buckley said, "For the safety of the participants and attendees, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade has been postponed from this Monday, Jan. 21, until the tentative date of April 13, 2019."

According to organizers, the 2019 honorees include Congressman John Sarbanes, Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger, Alderman Marc Rodriguez, Wandra Ashley Williams, Midshipman First Class Aaron J. Lewis, Najiba Hlemi, Dr. Vivian Gist Spencer, Patricia Cole, George "Lassie" Belt, M. M Eve Hurwitz and Annapolis High School honor student Zion Green.

Slated to attend the dinner are Congressman Anthony Brown, Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman, Harford County Executive Barry Glassman, Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley, First Lady Julie Williams Buckley, Anne Colt Leitess for Anne Arundel County State's Attorney, Judge Vickie Gipson, Judge Elizabeth Morris, Anne Arundel County Council chairman Andrew Pruski, Harford County Council President Patrick S. Vincenti, 6th District Councilwoman Lisa Brannigan Rodvien, Delegate Alice Cain, Delegate Mike Rogers, Delegate Sandy Bartlett, Alderwoman Elly Tierney, Alderwoman Sheila M. Finlayson, Alderwoman Shaneka Henson, Andrea Horton, Christine Davenport, and Thea Boykins- Wilson.

Also set to attend the gala are Maryland State NAACP President Gerald Stansbury, Anne Arundel County President Jacqueline Allsup, Antonio Downing, Bishop Antonio Barbara Palmer, Dr. L.e. Gomez, Reverend Steve Tillett, Pastor Jay Offer, Reverend Marguerite Morris, Bishop Craig Coates, Caucus of African American Leaders members James Sweeting, attorney Daryl Jones, Robert Eades, Erica Matthews, Jo Ann Scipio, Eugene Peterson, Tony J. Spencer, Juanita Cage Lewis, Claudia DeGrate, Dee Goodwyn, Dr. Mary Dadone, Monica Lindsey, and Larry Davis.\

Special guest includes St. John's College President Panayiotis Kanelos, former Annapolis police Chief Joseph Johnson, Emily Legum, Dr. Larry Blum, Rick Hutzell, CJ Meushaw, Yasemin Jamison, Jennifer Haber, Thornell Jones, and State Senator Sarah Elfreth.

The dinner will feature the United States Naval Academy Gospel Choir, who will be providing the entertainment, and the audience will pause to remember Dr. King. The civil rights leader would have been 90 years old today, but was assassinated in 1968.

Organizer Carl Snowden wrote on Facebook: "I will always remember these words that he had spoken. 'If you can't fly; run. If you can't run; walk. If you can't walk; crawl, but, for God's sake, keep the movement moving.' Tonight, we pause to honor those who through their words, deeds and actions have helped "keep the movement moving."

Photo of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. by Reg Lancaster/Express/Getty Images