Daytona Beach is gearing up for a vibrant celebration honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. This year’s festivities will kick off with an early start, featuring a series of events designed to commemorate the civil rights leader’s life and achievements.
The commemoration begins this Sunday at 4 p.m. with a banquet and scholarship awards ceremony at the Hard Rock Hotel, located at 918 N. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach. This event is not just a celebration but also an opportunity to support and encourage young minds in their educational pursuits.
Continuing the tribute, Daytona Beach will host “7 Words From The King” the following Sunday, Jan. 14, starting at 4 p.m. at Master’s Domain Church of God in Christ. The church, located at 511 Fremont Ave., will become a platform for honoring King’s profound words and teachings.
The apex of the celebration will be on Martin Luther King Jr.’s 95th birthday, Monday, Jan. 15. The day will begin with an 8 a.m. prayer breakfast at the Cherry Cultural & Educational Center at 925 George Engram Blvd. A small donation of $2 is requested from those attending the breakfast, symbolizing the community’s contribution to keeping King’s dream alive.
Following the breakfast, participants will gather for the annual march, a significant and symbolic event that will commence at 9:45 a.m. at the Cherry Cultural & Educational Center. This march is not only a physical journey but also a reflection of the journey undertaken by King and countless others who fought for civil rights and equality.
For those seeking more information about the banquet, breakfast, and march, organizer Kim Brown-Crawford can be contacted at (386) 451-1108 or via email at [email protected].
Daytona Beach is also paying homage to King through street banners displayed in the city center. These banners serve as a visual reminder of King’s impact as a Baptist minister and activist, whose leadership in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968, remains a beacon of hope and change.