After a tumultuous 2014 involving protests across the U.S., MLK Day and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s fight for civil rights seem more relevant and important than ever. Stations across the nation are celebrating King’s life and legacy with special programming on MLK Day this Monday, January 19. Read on for links and information regarding events.
WBAI in New York City will provide a day-long broadcast of material related to and inspired by King between 6 a.m. and midnight. Programming will include King’s best speeches, along with an MLK Short Cuts from Peter Bochan and station producers discussing how the civil rights movement informs today’s Black Lives Matter movement.
KBOO in Portland, OR will air “Keep Alive the Dream” from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. The program is a tribute to King and commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
KKFI’s “Thursday Night Special” in Kansas City, MO aired two MLK speeches on Thursday, January 15. The speeches revisited were “We Want To Be Free,” given at a Freedom Rally on May 26, 1963; and “Discussions of a Complete Life” from January 1962.
KUMD in Duluth, MN will honor the life and influence of Bayard Rustin this Monday at 7:00 p.m. Their site says: “Listen and learn about the life and legacy of Bayard Rustin, the man who shared Gandhian, non-violent protest practices with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”
KVMR in Nevada City, CA, along with The Miner’s Foundry, will broadcast the 33rd King Day Gospel Concert live from the Foundry on Monday at noon. The Bethel AME Church Choir of Marysville are the main attraction at the event, and Nevada City’s own Trinity Choir also performs. Other station events planned for that day can be found on the event’s news article.
“The Soul Party” of WMNF in Tampa, FL will host its Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade starting at 10:30 a.m. Don’t forget to bring your beads to toss! More information, including a route map, is available through the link.