Communities will mark Martin Luther King Day
Area communities are preparing for the upcoming holiday dedicated to honoring the achievements of Dr. King, the preeminent leader of the American Civil Rights Movement. The holiday is observed annually on the third Monday of January near Dr. King’s Jan. 15 birthday. The day is dedicated to commemorating the Civil Rights icon’s role in advancing racial equality, social justice, and voting rights through nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience.
Among Dr. King’s most memorable achievements, considered pivotal in the fight for civil rights, are his leading of the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott; his organizing of the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech and his influence in the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Schools, banks, government offices, the stock market and postal services will be closed.
The federal holiday dedicated to his achievements was designated by Congress in 1994 and characterized as a National Day of Service and is often described as “A Day On, Not a Day Off.” It is the only federal holiday that carries this designation, encouraging Americans to volunteer in their communities to help realize Dr. King's vision of a "Beloved Community". In Romulus, Martin Luther King Day Planning Committee members have committed to a service project titled “Romulus Community Warm-Up” to assist and support the unhoused community.
Items including gloves, hats, socks, toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrushes, bar soap, deodorant, hand sanitizer, etc.), blankets, large tote bags, or ponchos are sought for the project. Items can be dropped off at Romulus City Hall, Romulus Athletic Center, Romulus Public Library, Public Service Credit Union, and Walter's Bar/Romulus Lanes through Jan. 12.
The items will be packaged following the One Romulus: Living the Dream in Action walk and ceremony set to begin at 7:30 a.m. at Romulus Middle School. Walkers will march to Romulus High School beginning at 8 a.m. where the service project packaging is scheduled from 8 until 9:30 a.m. Following that effort, participants will meet in the high school cafeteria for refreshments provided by Kroger. The official celebration and ceremony honoring Dr. King will begin in the high school auditorium at 9:30 a.m. The event is open to the public and is organized by the City of Romulus, Romulus Community Schools and Romulus Ministerial Alliance. Shuttle bus service for walkers will begin at 7 a.m. from the high school to the middle school.
Canton Township and Plymouth-Canton Community Schools are hosting a joint celebration to honor Dr. King’s legacy. The commemorative event is set for 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Village Arts Factory, 50755 Cherry Hill Road. The event is free and open to all ages, featuring student performances, art displays, and spoken word presentations.
The key speakers will be Canton Township Supervisor Anne Marie Graham-Hudak and Plymouth Canton Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Monica Merritt.
In Westland, Dr. Cleamon Moorer, Jr. will be the speaker at a commemorative ceremony honoring Dr. King. The event is open to the public as is set for 9 a.m. Jan. 19 at the Burning Bush International Ministries at 30355 Annapolis Road in Westland.
The day serves as a time for national reflection on the progress made toward equality and the "unfinished work" of the movement. It provides a platform to address modern issues like systemic racism, economic disparity, and voting access, ensuring Dr. King’s dream remains an active pursuit rather than just a historical memory, according to a national spokesman.
