USA Cooperation Circles Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.

22 January 2016
audience

Community members attended a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration in San Francisco, Californai. 

Cooperation Circles across the United States celebrated and carried on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s (MLK) legacy on and around January 18, the day set aside in the US to commemorate MLK. 

Tennessee

The Northeast Tennessee Chapter URI Cooperation Circle marched in the Kingsport MLK parade on January 18. TN MLK

Texas

This MLK Day, the Rothko Chapel continued their annual tradition of hosting a program to "honor the life, legacy, and vision of Dr. King. This year's program "Still Dreaming: Black Lives Matter, Hip Hop, and MLK's Legacy" feature hip hop artists, activists, and academicians who use their art to tell stories about different life journeys and perspectives. In addition, on January 18, recordings of Dr. King's speeches and sermons were broadcast" throughout the day at the Chapel. 

New York

InterFaith Works' Senior Services Program honored MLK's birthday with a "Mitzvah Day Book Party" and food drive to benefit refugee families. The event was held cooperation with Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas. 

The event included a food drive and an opportunity for children to decorate book bags and receive books to fill the bag. Members of Congregation Beth Shalom-Chevra Shas read with the children.

Hawaii

URI Founder Bishop Bill Swing was invited to give the keynote speech at the MLK celebration hosted by the Interfaith Roundtable of Kaua'i, at the Lihue Neighborhood Center. He shared a speech that reflected on MLK's legacy and interfaith action. Read more here

group photo

California

The San Francisco Interfaith Council joined with faith leaders and congregants to for a MLK celebrations at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theatre. The event began with a march from the Caltrain Depot to the Theatre, where the 6th Annual Interfaith Commemoration Ceremony was held. The nearby Silicon Valley Interreligious Council also promoted the event to its members. 

 In addition, on February 12, the San Francisco Interfaith Council, in collaboration with the University of San Francisco, will host a half-day workshop on the role of communities of faith ini the Civil Rights Movement.  Dr. Clarence B. Jones, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s former personal counsel, advisor, draft speech writer and close friend, will deliver the keynote speech. 

The Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County (ICCCC) participated in a MLK Celebration co-sponsored with two local justice organizations. With a packed house at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, the event focused on Dr. King and mass incarceration. 

They also held a vigil on MLK day for ICCCC members and other faith groups/organizations to "come together and bear witness to both the realities of society and its possibilities." The vigil was meant to both honor King's past work for racial and economic justice and to continue it on as people of faith.

MLK vigil

The Marin Interfaith Council joined with Unity Marin to sponsor a celebration of MLK's life, which included a candlelight vigil, Gospel Jam and nationally-renowned speakers. They also joined the 18th Annual Celebration in Marin City involving a "Call to Action" march and program in Marin City, which included speakers, youth entertainment, spoken word, music, awards and a community BBQ.