COLUMBUS – Central Ohio communities will observe Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Monday with a variety of programs and events, including the annual parade, which is being held in the King-Lincoln District of Columbus this year.
RELATED: Many Ohioans remember King with a day of community service.
Governor John Kasich and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor issued a resolution Friday in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, recognizing “his legacy of honor, integrity and commitment to community” that has endured for nearly 50 years.”
The celebration will begin with the annual MLK Day March from the Martin Luther King, Jr., Performing and Cultural Arts Complex, 867 Mt Vernon Avenue, to the historic Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long Street, where a special program, hosted by Mayor Andrew Ginther and the city’s Community Relations Commission, will feature Dr. Mary Frances Berry, former Chairperson of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission.
The march will begin at 4:45 p.m. at the intersection of Mt. Vernon and North Garfield Avenues and will proceed westbound on Mt. Vernon Avenue to Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard; south on MLK Boulevard to E. Spring Street, west on Spring Street to Lester Drive, south on Lester Drive to E. Long Street and east on Long Street to the Lincoln Theatre at Long Street and N. Garfield Avenue
Rolling closures will be in place along the route between about 4:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. The closures of Spring and Long Streets are expected to be less than 15 minutes in duration.
The parade will be preceded by an open house at the MLK Center from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Other activities scheduled in the Columbus area:
The Ohio History Center is open from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., examining topics like civil rights, justice and equality through artifacts, live theatre performances and conversations. Special programs include Lustron House Live!, Echoes in Time Theatre performance titled North to New Life and a curator talk about Columbus’s Vanguard League.
Dublin – The Martin Luther King, Jr. Remembrance Celebration hosted by the Dublin Parents of Black Students Association in partnership with the city and the Dublin City Schools takes place from 11:00 a.m. to noon at Discover Christian Church, 2900 Martin Road. Reverend Joel King Jr., a cousin of Dr. King, will deliver a keynote speech inspired by King’s quote, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” The program also features student poetry and essay readings, and the Union Grove Baptist Church Gospel Choir. During a Day of Service project from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. volunteers will make blankets for cancer patients.
Capital University will be hosting its 25th anniversary MLK Day celebration, including keynote speaker and civil rights activist Terrence Roberts, who was a member of the Little Rock Nine, speaking at 9:00 a.m. at Mees Hall. The day’s highlights include discussions on topics like the political/religious divide and the Black Lives Matter movement and display of the I have a Dream diversity quilt project in the Capital Center from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Otterbein University’s Center for Community Engagement will host an Outreach Program Food Packaging Event from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Jan. 20 in the Campus Center, 100 W. Home Street. Volunteers will package macaroni and cheese meals created by Iowa State University’s Food Science Department which will be distributed by Westerville Area Resource Ministry and the Otterbein campus food co-op. The event is being held in conjunction with Otterbein’s 30th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation, a free public lecture being held at 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 20 in the Fritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall, 30 S. Grove Street, featuring author Debby Irving.