Organizers of the annual march in Peoria honoring Martin Luther King Jr. hope to inspire more people, especially youth, to engage in social and political issues.
The annual MLK holiday is bookended by the departure of America’s first African American president and the inauguration of Donald Trump.
Freedom March organizer Eugene Daniel says the timing couldn’t be better. Daniel says the event aims to remind attendees of their constitutional rights to speak out against injustice and to unite around common values.
“That’s what people get out of any march, but particularly when we’re celebrating Dr. King," Daniel said. "I like to think what he would say, what he would do, at this time, how he would mobilize and how he would inspire.”
Monday's ceremonies celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.'s would-be 88th birthday include a commemorative service and awards ceremony, following the march.
Earlier in the day, Patti LaBelle will be the keynote speaker and will perform at an annual luncheon at the Civic Center. The march is scheduled earlier than usual to accommodate for her performance.
Part of this year's commemoration has a digital component. Attendees are asked to post to social media using the hashtag, #IHavePower.”
Co-organizer Lamar Anderson has participated in the annual march in Peoria since 1999. Anderson, who's also the family school liaison at Manual Academy, says he brings students every year to remind them that the national holiday recognizing Dr. King is more than a day off school.
“‘Cause that’s what a lot of people think, you know, ‘I get a day off to go hang out, do whatever.’ I’ve always looked at it as a 'day on,'" Anderson said. "This is the day that if you’re really trying to remember the life of Doctor Martin Luther King and what he stood for, you should be doing something in his memory.”
Anderson will be among those leading the march from Bradley University to First United Methodist Church downtown.
More Information:
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom March assembles at 2:30pm and departs at 3:00pm from the Romeo B. Garrett Cultural Center at Bradley University.
The march ends at First United Methodist Church, 116 NE Perry Avenue, Peoria. A commemorative service and awards ceremony follows.
More details about the event can be found here.