Day of Celebration Honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Strives to Continue his Mission
JONESBORO – [UPDATE: The celebration has been rescheduled for Saturday, Jan. 20, at 5 p.m. at Fullness of Joy Ministries Church, 2120 Thorn St., Jonesboro. The Youth Celebration originally planned for Sunday, Jan. 14, has been rescheduled to Sunday, Jan. 21, at 4 p.m at the Jonesboro High School Performing Arts Center.] A celebration is planned to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the campus of Arkansas State University beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 15. The theme of the event is, “A Dream: What the World Needs Now.”
“This is reflective of the dream by Dr. King for world peace and justice for all. With the turmoil in the world today, we need more people with his type of dream and working to achieve it, not afraid to advocate for it,” said Dr. Lonnie Williams, vice chancellor of the Division of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement.
Ahead of the celebration on Monday, a youth program will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 14, at the Jonesboro High School auditorium. The program allows young people to come together to showcase their talents.Williams said this event is planned each year by the Northeast Arkansas Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade Planning Committee, of which he is a member. Kenisha Ross serves as the chairperson of the committee“It is a community-based group open to all who want to participate or help coordinate this annual celebration. This celebration will be the 22nd such celebration coordinated by this committee,” said Williams.
Staging for the annual march/parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Lt. Col. Frederick Turner Jr. Military Science Building at A-State.The procession will go north on Marion Berry Parkway to Johnson Ave., turn east on Johnson Ave. to University Loop East, then turn south to Fowler Center, located at 201 Olympic Drive.“You’ll see children marching with parents, leaders in the Jonesboro community, A-State leadership members as well as students, faculty and staff who desire to show their support,” added Williams. “With a high school marching band, school-age drill teams and others, the parade/march will have 300 or more participants.”The morning event will culminate with a guest speaker at noon at Fowler Center. The speaker will be Jannie M. Cotton, a licensed professional counselor, who is the first Black woman in the state to serve as chief executive officer of a significant mental health organization. She recently retired from her position with Professional Counseling Associates in North Little Rock after serving 13 years in that role.
Williams said A-State, like several higher education institutions across the country, cancels classes to allow students the opportunity to celebrate.“To make it meaningful and not just a day off from classes or work, we host celebrations to honor Dr. King and what he did to bring about social justice and peace,” he continued.He said it is vital to continue the mission.
“Until social justice, equality for all, and peace across the land are achieved, there will continue to be a need to remind people of the ‘drum major for justice.’ This is what Dr. King stood for and what he wanted to see accomplished. Dr. King reminded America where it was falling short in living up to the promise made for all Americans,” he added.
The event is free and open to the public.
Participants in the 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade make their way across campus.
