Corpus Christi has honored Dr. MLK Jr. with marches since 1986 – Riverside, California
Riverside, California 2021-01-14 07:00:16 –
After the assassination in April 1968, it took the U.S. government nearly 20 years to declare a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but since the first national holiday in 1986, a member of the local black community. The Corpus Christie citizens led by the march. Every year, we support King’s visionary ideals for America.
In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill to create a holiday after years of lobbying by King’s widow Coretta Scott King and several failed bills. The holiday-designated bill is the third Monday of January, and the first official celebration is January 20, 1986.
In Corpus Christi, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inter-denominational Alliance and the Corpus Christi Alumni Association united to organize a march in honor of the murdered civil rights leader who would have turned 57 that year, King. I thought I chose to hold an actual march on my birthday, January 15th.
More:#TBT: Rev. Harold Brunch shaped Corpus Christi’s civil rights movement for decades
In the first year, more than 500 marchers gathered at 6 pm for a bright walk to St. John’s First Baptist Church, a few blocks away from Hillcrest Park. Leading the way was Rev. Jimmy Miller, a local pastor of the Friendship Baptist Church. Rev. Elliott of St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church. Pastor Harold Branch of the Church of St. John Baptist; and Pastor of Mount AO Gary. Carmel Baptist Church.
Two years later, the group sought to involve more cities, not just the local black community.
“We’ve held celebrations on his birthday in the past, but this year we want to involve the entire community,” the celebration president, Loretta Shaw, told the Caller Times in 1988. Told.
The year’s event took place over four days, including church services and sermons, a performance by Charles Sidney Gilpin of Prairie View University, and a banquet at the local NAACP branch, which now culminates in an annual march. .. Over the next few years, other events were added, from concerts to athletics to racial justice forums.
More:#TBT: Corpus Christi’s past June celebrations featured baseball games and parades.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no annual march this year, but the Corpus Christi Alumni Branch of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the City of Corpus Christi will host a virtual march for Martin Luther King Junior Day of Service. At https://www.cctexas.com/MLK.
Other virtual events in 2021 include a presentation from Freedom Rider Joant Trumpauer Malholland, who worked with King and others in the civil rights movement during decades of activity. She will be joined by award-winning filmmakers, writers, activists, and son Loki Mulholland, the founder / secretary general of the Joan Trumpauer Foundation.
Allison Ehrlich writes about what to do in South Texas and has a weekly Throwback Tuesday column on local history. Check out subscription options and special offers at Caller.com/subscribe to support such local coverage
Corpus Christi has honored Dr. MLK Jr. with marches since 1986 Source link Corpus Christi has honored Dr. MLK Jr. with marches since 1986
