Seattle/King County
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Commemoration Committee
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
2018 to Present - A Summary of MLKCC Accomplishments Part 3
Established the Black History Month-Annual MLK Jr. Civil Rights Memorial Park Trees Lighting Ceremony. The park remains lit throughout the month of February in honor of Black History
On January 19th, 2019, MLKCC held the 1st Annual Black History Month (BHM) MLK Park Tree Lighting Ceremony. A special prayer of remembrance was held at the Charleston 9 Memorial and the Keynote speaker: Legendary attorney, Lembhard G Howell (Lem) oration clarified the substantial essence of the national and local history of the Civil Rights Movement and the future challenges for the socio-economic justice movement. The park trees facing MLK Way were lit at sundown and remained lit throughout February in honor of Black History Month.
February 17th, 2020, held the 2nd Annual BHM – MLK Park Tree Lighting Ceremony. The theme was “Remember our Journey to Plan for the Future”. Keynote speakers: Rev. Dr. Robert L. Jeffrey, Sr., Senior Pastor New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, spoke on the Black Community’s past “Journey” through Seattle’s history and his visions for us to plan for the future. Rev. Dr. Robert L. Manaway Sr, Senior Pastor Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church and spokesperson for the McKinney Coalition, addressed the “Future” current challenges, the establishment of the Central District – Community Preservation Development Authority (CD-CPDA). The CPDA acquiring the Seattle Vocational Institute (SVI) from the State of Washington and renaming the building after the late, Rev. Dr. Samuel Berry McKinney, Senior Pastor Mt. Zion Baptist Church who founded the Seattle Opportunity Industrialization Center (SOIC) that built and dedicated the building in 1974. The facility will be renamed the McKinney Community Economic Development Center. The Park trees facing MLK Way were lit at sundown to remain lit throughout February in honor of BHM. Following the Park program, Jimmy Hurd, Minister of Holgate Street Church Of Christ hosted the closing reception in his church that is directly across the street from the Park.
On January 30, 2021, Saturday, at sunset, the third annual tree lighting ceremony will be held to honor Black History and local civil rights leaders who have fought for equality. The park lights will remain lit throughout the month of February. SAVE the DATE
Our Philosophy
The Martin Luther King Commemoration Committee believes his-story or her-story is our-story. We will preserve, educate and empower people by teaching the legacy of Rev. Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement, through our commitment to promote and protect the human rights of every race, creed, religion, nationality, gender, activity limitation, participation restriction or sexual orientation.
Our History
Like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. it started with a DREAM. In February of 2018, a meeting was held with a broad cross section of faith and community based organizations, businesses, labor, and individuals to establish an organization to preserve, educate and empower people by hosting various events
throughout the year that would feature the history of Rev. Dr. King, the Civil Rights
Movement and local leaders that have made significant contributions for equality. At that meeting, the Martin Luther King Commemoration Committee (MLKCC) was
created. Read More