Civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. would have turned 87 on Friday, and Monday marks 30 years since the beginning of the annual national celebration of his life and legacy.
Gov. Mary Fallin issued a statement saying there's still unfinished business on the way to achieving King's dreams.
“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s message of tolerance, mutual respect and human dignity is just as relevant today as it was when he lived," Fallin said. "He believed in freedom and equality of opportunity for which the United States of America still stands."
State and local civic leaders will gather at the intersection of NE 23rd Street and Martin Luther King Ave. in Oklahoma City at 9 a.m. for a silent march to the Oklahoma History Center.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “The Color of Unity,” and there will be remarks by State Rep. Mike Shelton and past and present NAACP officials.
Full Schedule Of Oklahoma City's MLK Day Activities
The National Bell-Ringing Salute takes place at 10:45, and the holiday program at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral begins at 12:15 p.m. The parade through downtown begins at 2 p.m. There's also an MLK Job Fair taking place at the Chevy Bricktown Events Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, and Langston University's Oklahoma City campus hosts an MLK Marketplace from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
There will be food trucks, cultural exhibits, and live entertainment.
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