After several years of planning, fund raising and construction, two Twin Cities monuments to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will be dedicated on Tuesday, November 19. Adding to the significance of the moment will be the main speaker, King’s son, Martin Luther King III.
The Unified Civic Monuments Project and Lake Michigan College have laid out the multi-event schedule for Tuesday.
Double Unveiling Schedule November 19
10:30 a.m. at Margaret B. Upton Arboretum
Unveiling at St. Joseph site
11 a.m. starting at Margaret B. Upton Arboretum
Unity March with MLKIII, local clergy, and BH/SJ bands from St. Joseph to Benton Harbor
11:30 a.m. at Dwight P. Mitchell City Center Park
Unveiling at Benton Harbor site
Noon at Lake Michigan College
Directly following the unveilings, on the grounds of the LMC Mendel Center
lunch – food trucks available
1:30 p.m. Lake Michigan College
“A Conversation with Martin Luther King III,” at the LMC Mendel Center – register for free at bit.ly/mlk3talk
Advance reservations for the LMC event are encouraged to guarantee seating. Free general admission may also be available at the door up to the venue capacity.
Additional details:
On Tuesday, November 19, the festivities will begin at 10:30 a.m. with an unveiling ceremony at the monument site in the Margaret B. Upton Arboretum in St. Joseph.
At 11:00, all are invited to march with the Benton Harbor and St. Joseph high school bands to the Benton Harbor Dwight P. Mitchell City Center Park.
The Benton Harbor unveiling ceremony begins there at 11:30.
At 1:30 p.m., the Unified Civic Monuments Project and the Lake Michigan College Speaker Series will welcome the public to a free special engagement featuring King at the LMC Mendel Center Grand Upton Hall. During the event, “A Conversation with Martin Luther King III,” King will touch on a variety of topics including the importance of continuing the struggle for civil rights and the importance of individual action in making his father’s dream a reality.
Reservations for free general admission seating at the 1:30 p.m. Speaker Series event may be made at bit.ly/mlk3talk.
Advance reservations are encouraged to guarantee seating. Free general admission may also be available at the door up to the venue capacity.
A limited amount of bus transportation will be available between the two monument sites, to the Mendel Center, and back. Food trucks will be available on the grounds of the Mendel Center beginning at 11:30 a.m. Food and specialty beverage tickets for the food trucks may be purchased in the Grand Upton Hall Lobby. Cash and credit cards will be accepted. Attendees are also welcome to bring their own lunch. Complimentary lemonade, iced tea and water will be available inside Grand Upton Hall.
