ST. GEORGE – Celebration of the life and legacy of the civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. will be held Monday at the St. George Tabernacle at 6 p.m.
IMPACT of Southern Utah, a nonprofit gang prevention organization, has partnered with the Washington County Minority Coalition to host the ceremony, “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Man of Peace.”
Keynote speakers at the ceremony will be Robert Maloney, founder of the St. George Writers’ Group, and Brother Don Harwell, president of the “Genesis Group” of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City. An opening prayer will be offered by LDS Bishop Joel Cash.
Musical guests include pianist Christopher Giles, the Sunset Elementary School Choir, the Tonaquint Intermediate Orchestra, Sauny J, Beverly Jenkins and Dulce featuring Mike King and Jaki King.
The ceremony will close with a prayer from Rick Wilkins, the founder of the Washington County Minority Coalition. Ron Current, founder of IMPACT of Southern Utah, will also be on hand to offer remarks.
The event will be an inspirational and spiritual event designed to celebrate and continue the life and legacy of King. The entire community is cordially invited to attend.
Event details and contact information
Date: Jan. 21
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: St. George Tabernacle, 18 South Main Street, St. George
Admission: Free
Contact: Jon Martin Tomas, Washington County Minority Coalition – 702-423-7028
Submitted by: Washington County Minority Coalition
Email: [email protected]
Odd that a city event for Martin Luther King is being held at a church rather than the Dixie Convention Center or other public (non-denomination) building. Based on the Mormon oriented opening ceremonies and presentations, this is not a non-denominational public event.
At least no MLK activity is being held in the shadows of the Confederate statue.
The state legislature made a move to make this day a celebration of the Browning gun inventor a few years ago, claiming that since they didn’t know the exact birthday they’d choose the same date that was “coincidentally” MLK’s. They pretty much openly dislike MLK in Utah. When called on it most of them back down, but there’s a history here.
Not just Utah, but many other states. “Martin Luther King, Jr. Day” was not recognized by the entire US until 2000.
In Utah, the holiday was known as “Human Rights Day” until 2000 when the Utah State Legislature voted to change the name of the holiday from Human Rights Day to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. You still hear people refer to today as Human Rights Day. Is it resistance to identify and honor a black man for his contributions to society?