City of Columbia holds 36th Annual “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration”
COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — The City of Columbia held its 36th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration at the MLK Park on Greene Street.
Dr. Bobby Donaldson, Executive Director of the Center for Civil Rights History and Research at the University of South Carolina was the keynote speaker at Monday’s event.
“Today we come to celebrate a champion of hope, born on this day 1929, 95 years ago. There was nothing about young Michael King’s life on Auburn Avenue that would have ever suggested that the nation would pause on this day and celebrate him in the City of Columbia, with the leading member Democratic House of Representatives and the Vice President of the United States. No one would ever imagine in 1929 that that would be possible,” Donaldson says.
One word continued to come up by Donaldson and other guest speakers, and that word was service.
“Dr. King said to us, every person in this room has the capacity to be great, all you have to do is have the willingness and the compassion to serve,” says Donaldson.
Neighborhood President Vivian Clark challenged the audience to live Dr. King’s legacy of service all year long.
“Because one of his greatest mottos was, “What have you done for others?” So I ask that all of you do a day of service, not just today, but throughout the year of 2024,” Clark says.
Donaldson also reminded the audience that Dr. King was supposed to be in Columbia on April 3rd of 1968. But he sent a telegram to the church saying he was distracted in Memphis and would join them soon.
“That day never came. On April 3rd, 1968, at the Mason Temple Church of God and Christ, Dr. King gave his last message, and you know what he said,” says Donaldson.
Doctor King’s words included “I just want to do God’s will. And he’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with ya, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land.”
