Work, words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. remembered at annual event

It was a scene not unlike something Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. himself likely envisioned.

Abingdon United Methodist Church was full Saturday, full of people: young and old, black and white, all sitting together in community.

And they were talking -- about economic justice and racial equality; about social justice and peace.

Those in attendance were celebrating King’s life. This, the 25th year of the event, the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, was organized by members of the Appalachian Peace Center and Virginia Highlands Community College.

“It’s just making a statement, about all the work that continues to need to be done,” said Bunny Medeiros, of Damascus, Va. “It’s an opportunity to honor someone who I believe represents what we’re calling now the 99 percent – it’s connected. Locally, our community suffers form many of the same problems that existed in [King’s] time and we tend not to look at those problems.”

Those problems, she said, include poverty, race and how the economy is related to both.

“[The takeaway] is sharing – not only the wealth, but the love, respect and community, because we’re all connected together,” said Mark Canty, of Bristol, Tenn., who attended the service for the first time with his family. His 18-year-old son, Morgan, sang during the celebration.

Many participants in the annual celebration read snippets of speeches King gave – “The Other America,” which he gave at Stanford University in 1967, and “Beyond Vietnam, A Time to Break Silence,” delivered in New York City that same year, were among them.

Dr. Jerry Jones, a professor at Emory & Henry College, helped run the celebration. He said one of his favorite aspects of the celebration is the diverse group of people who attend. An important message of the day, and of King’s life, he said, is the call to leadership.

“When you read about [King’s] life and his history, there’s an element of reluctance at first, to be a leader,” he said. “We never know when a leadership role is going to be thrust upon us. There are lost of leaders around, and it doesn’t matter what age we are.”

The remembrance ceremony at Charles Wesley United Methodist Church was preceded by a march of about 75 people through the streets of  Abingdon to the church where they gathered for the service.

James Phillips, of Glade Spring, Va., was one of the marchers.

“I think it makes a statement that everybody should have freedom, the same freedom,” he said. “It’s supposed to be for everybody. I think we should always – all of us – be mindful of showing respect, and this is just a way of doing it.”

Phillips said he, too, appreciated the diversity of people who were celebrating King’s legacy.

“So many of these people here are young people,” he said. “Young white people and young black people. And that’s good, because they’re going to take over.”

arobinson@bristolnews.com
(276) 645-2531

YOU SHOULD KNOW

Other Martin Luther King, Jr. celebrations planned throughout the region

Today

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration at 2 p.m. at Lee Street Baptist Church, Bristol, Va.  
• One Song, Many Voices Concert at 7:30 p.m. at Emory and Henry’s Memorial Chapel

Jan. 23

• Community dinner at First Church of God in Wise, Va., at 5 p.m. followed by a candlelight march to Wise Baptist Church at 6 p.m. and a program at 7 p.m.