Activist William Barber II To Speak At Morristown Martin Luther King Day Event

MORRISTOWN, NJ — The Martin Luther King Observance Committee in Morristown organized a slate of speakers and discussion panels Monday for its virtual event on the namesake holiday. The celebration on Martin Luther King Jr. Day will include keynote speaker Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, a well-known minister and activist.

The virtual event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday. The event is free, but donations will be accepted. Click here to register.

Panel discussions will include the following topics:

• Surviving Today's Toxic Environment of Hate
• Criminal Justice Reform
• Public Health and the Pandemic
• Rebuilding the Economy
• Culture Wars: Critical Race Theory/Cancel Culture/Black Lives Matter
• The Challenge of Worshipping in the Changing Face of the Pandemic
• Realities of Today's Injustices: Present and Future Hope

The Martin Luther King Observance Committee sets to embrace and inspire all people to embrace King's vision of social justice; equality in education, employment and housing; personal freedom; and peace and harmony among all people.

"Dr. King’s 'Beloved Community' is a global vision in which all people can share in the wealth of the earth," the committee's website says. "In the 'Beloved Community,' poverty, hunger and homelessness will not be tolerated because international standards of human decency will not allow it. Racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry and prejudice will be replaced by an all inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood."

Barber serves as president and senior lecturer of Repairers of the Breach and co-chairs the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call For Moral Revival.

Repairers of the Breach, a nonpartisan nonprofit, seeks to mobilize a "progressive agenda" for people of different faiths to help the poor, communities of color, LGBTQ people and other marginalized groups. The Poor People's Campaign sets to unite poor and marginalized communities across the country to build on King's "revolution of values."

Thanks for reading. Have a news tip? Email josh.bakan@patch.com. Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter and follow the Morristown Patch Facebook page.