Salisbury event celebrates life of Martin Luther King Jr.
SALISBURY — About 600 people gathered at the Wicomico Civic Center on Monday, Jan. 15, to celebrate the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Tri-County MLK Coalition hosted the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration & Commemoration Banquet for the 39th year.
Jesse T. Ballard, the coalition’s president, said the event is meant to bridge gaps in the community, following the group’s motto.
“We can’t do it all, but we do our best to bring the communities together,” he said prior to the event. “Where the elite can meet the residents of the community, sit down at a roundtable and have a communicative conversation so that people can understand people better.”
The annual event began one year before Martin Luther King Jr. Day became a national holiday. Regarding its 40th anniversary in 2025, Mr. Ballard said the coalition will also likely donate to its University of Maryland Eastern Shore endowment fund, a donation that takes place every five years.
In advance of the event, Mr. Ballard stressed the importance of the teachings of Dr. King, lamenting that the time dedicated to him is so short.
“It’s a sad irony that it’s only a one-day event,” he said. “His desire, like mine, would be that we promote nonviolence and unity throughout the entire year.”
