MLK Activities in Tyler, Longview

TYLER — Tyler observes Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Monday. It all began with a 9 a.m. rally on the square that was followed by a march down Broadway and an ecumenical service at 10 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Keynote speaker for the service is Texas College President Dr. Dwight Fennell.

Monday’s downtown activities were arranged by the Tyler Together Race Relations Forum. Forum chair Steve Russell says Dr. King and other civil rights leaders worked to “lift all boats.” Russell says, “It was a rising tide that brought everyone up, and so many other things have been accomplished because of the work done in the civil rights movement.” Forum vice-chair Mary Ransom says, “I think Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., came to give everyone that’s downtrodden, hopeless, some type of hope.”

LONGVIEW — In honor of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., The MLK Planning Committee, the City of Longview, and other community sponsors present the annual MLK Citywide Celebration with events that began Friday and continue through Monday. Under the theme “The Dream, From the Community to the World,” several events have been planned including a banquet, essay contest, art contest, jazz concert, parade, festival, humanitarian celebration, worship service, and a memorial march. You can go to http://longviewtexas.gov/news/news-releases to get details on the activities.