MLK Jr. Commission’s Annual Celebration, Recognition

From RI House: The Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission will be holding its annual celebration of the life, and death, of the great civil rights leader on Monday, January 21, beginning at 4 p.m. at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, 475 Cranston Street, Providence.

Refreshments will follow the celebration in Isom Hall in the basement of the church. The official holiday commemoration, to which the public is invited, will include remarks by commission members, state and religious leaders, several musical presentations, and a number of awards will be presented. State Rep. Raymond A. Hull (D-Dist. 6, Providence, North Providence), who chairs the MLK State Holiday Commission that annually organizes and hosts the celebration, will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Rep. Joseph S. Almeida (D-Dist. 12, Providence) will lead the gathering in the Pledge of Allegiance and the “Living the Dream” pledge. Rabbi Sarah Mack of Temple Beth-El will deliver the invocation and Rev. Carl H. Balark Jr., pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, will deliver the concluding benediction. Gov. Gina Raimondo will bring official greetings from the state. There will also be musical presentations by the Ebenezer Baptist Church Choir and RPM Voices of Rhode Island.

The annual MLK Day celebration is one of several major events conducted under the auspices of the State Holiday Commission, which was formed by the General Assembly to commemorate the day and also to promote educational efforts throughout the year. MLK Commission members include Representative Hull, Chairman; former Rep. Maxine B. Shavers, Vice Chair; Jo Eva Gaines, Treasurer; Rep. Joseph S. Almeida; Senator Harold M. Metts; Randall Rosenbaum; Reverend Balark; Onna Moniz John; Hon. J. Clement Cicilline; George Garedo; Norman Lincoln; Doris de los Santos; Frank Walker III; Dr. Marion Orr, and Antonio Mayberry.

Image via AP Photo