MLK Memorial Set to Lift the Spirits in Washington

Article by: Marisa Cannici

On October 16th, Martin Luther King Jr.’s symbolic power will linger throughout Washington D.C. as the National Mall will hold a dedication ceremony for the opening of the new Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. King, who was killed in 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee, is the first African-American to be honored with a memorial on the mall. The 30-foot granite statue stands beside memorials to presidents: Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The statue features the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize winner with his arms crossed and a stern stare. On each side of the statue is a wall inscribed with 14 of King’s famous quotes. The program will feature President Obama as a speaker, Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, member’s of the King family, as well as civil rights leaders. August 28th was the planned date for the dedication ceremony, cumulating with the week’s events for the 48th anniversary of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

Due to Hurricane Irene, the date was postponed to October 16th, the 16th anniversary of the 1995 Million Man March on the National Mall. “We are overjoyed to announce October 16th as Dedication Day,” said Harry E. Johnson, president of the MLK Memorial Foundation. The Million Man March was a gathering of social-activists, organizations and African-American men from across the United States converged on Washington in an effort to “convey to the world a vastly different picture of the Black male” and to improve their lives and let their voices be heard. The ceremony will begin at 9:00 AM with officials expecting to attract 50,000 people in attendance. “We are very pleased that the Memorial is now open to the public and to date has welcomed thousands of visitors from around the globe,” said Johnson. “Many have worked so long to help build this dream - a memorial to Dr. King and his legacy.”