As MLK holiday nears, Bernice King urges people to really focus on his teachings

Source: AP

Updated 4:50 PM EST, January 7, 2025


ATLANTA (AP) — As the holiday honoring slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. approaches, his daughter is urging people to really focus on his teachings and work throughout the coming year, rather than just quoting him or celebrating for a day.

The Rev. Bernice King, CEO of the King Center in Atlanta, spoke Tuesday as she kicked off a series of events — summits, service projects and educational opportunities — leading up to Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 20.

Coretta Scott King founded the King Center in 1968 to memorialize her husband’s life, work, legacy and commitment to nonviolence.

As she outlined the plans for the King holiday observance and talked about the King Center’s future, Bernice King reflected on violence and hardship in the world. She also spoke about the upcoming presidential inauguration of Donald Trump — which falls on the MLK holiday — and on the legacy of President Jimmy Carter.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/mlk-holiday-bernice-king-civil-rights-b741e5f44ba8c06114f5c6efb0b8278b