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2015 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
King County paid tribute to its namesake on January 15 during the 28th annual celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year's event focused on the 50th anniversary of the passage of the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act.
More than 400 people at the Paramount Theatre heard reflections on Dr. King's civil rights legacy from County Executive Dow Constantine and County Council Chair Larry Phillips. The keynote speaker was Maria Gitin, author of the book "This Bright Light of Ours," an oral history of the voting rights movement in 1965. As a college freshman, Gitin worked alongside Dr. King and other civil rights advocates to register African-Americans to vote.
The winners of the King County Civil Rights Commission's annual Martin Luther King Essay Contest were also honored during the celebration. Three students from Open Window School in Bellevue took top marks in the contest, which centered on a theme from Dr. King: "So long as I do not firmly and irrevocably possess the right to vote I do not possess myself. I cannot make up my mind - it is made up for me. I cannot live as a democratic citizen, observing the laws I have helped to enact - I can only submit to the edict of others."
The essay contest winners were:
- Colin Cameron, first prize
- Audrey Whitmer. second prize
- Emma Wineland, third prize
Attendees were also entertained by the musical duo of Ben & Joe, who blend diverse styles of acoustic blues, ragtime, and American folk into a fresh, unique sound.
The MLK Celebration will be broadcast by King County Television for those who were unable to attend in person. Broadcast times are:
- Jan. 16, 8 p.m.
- Jan. 17, 6:30 p.m.
- Jan. 18, 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.
- Jan. 19, 6 p.m.
For additional broadcast times, see the KCTV online schedule.
MLK Day of Service 2015
Make the Martin Luther King holiday a day on, not a day off. Volunteer to make a difference in your community.