The 32nd Annual Dr. Martin King Jr. Commemorative Unity Walk Celebration will be held Friday morning at 8:15. The event had to be rescheduled because of weather conditions on the originally scheduled day, Jan. 12.'
This walk will begin from the historic Bank Street AME Church on 564 East Fifth Street in Russellville, proceed up Fifth Street; walk around the square, winding up at the old historic Logan County Courthouse on West 4th/Winter Street where the program will be held upstairs. Those who do not wish to walk are welcome to meet walkers upstairs for the program.
Keynote speaker will be Tim W. Thomas, Kentucky Human Rights Commissioner, 1st Supreme Court District and TV host for "Focus with Tim Thomas" in Madisonville.
Students from Logan County High School, Russellville High School and elementary school will walk this year. To increase opportunity, some schools will give students excused absences if their parents or an authorized person picks them up from school, takes them to the walk and returns them to school after the program at the courthouse.
Some students will have prepared to sing on program at the courthouse with special guest, the Kentucky State Concert Choir of Frankfort, under the direction of Dr. Kevin McCutchen, D.M.A., Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities.
Then Sunday evening at 7:30, the Kentucky State Concert Choir will give a full concert performance at the United Methodist Temple on Main Street in Russellville. The practice session is scheduled 1 1/2 hours before the concert for volunteer singers (choirs) to form a Community Mass Choir to prepare to sing 2-4 songs with the Kentucky Concert Choir. The music will highlight the advancement of civil rights using the tactics of non-violence and civil disobedience based on Christian beliefs that Dr. King is noted for.
“We encourage everyone to continue efforts to strengthen our educational presentation for all our students, our parents and community. In doing so, we are asking for everyone's attendance including parents, employees, retired teachers, retirees, pastors, deacons, choirs, a lot of representatives of churches, businesses, civic organizations, government, elected officials, media, fire, police and health departments, youth/students and all persons to walk with us,” says organizer Marvina Benton Neblett in conjunction with her husband Charles.