NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — One of the largest celebrations for Martin Luther King, Jr. in New York City is taking place at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on Monday.
Organizers say it’s a chance to reflect, recharge and support one another as people honor the Civil Rights icon across the nation.
People lined up in the cold before 8 a.m. Monday morning to secure tickets. This year’s theme is “Defending Democracy.”
The keynote speaker this year is Reginald Dwayne Betts — a poet, lawyer and found and CEO of Freedom Reads, which is an organization aimed at getting more books into prisons.
The celebration will also include musical performances and Mayor Eric Adams will be speaking at the 38th annual celebration.
One mother-daughter duo said they attend the event every year.
“Keeping the message alive, King said that we’ll move and walk hand in hand…one people…I think we need that more than ever in this time,” Damali Carrington said.
Dr. King was born 95 years ago on this day in Atlanta.
His daughter, Bernice King, posted on social media a picture of her and her mother at Dr. King’s funeral.
It says in part, “He wanted corrective measures to eradicate racism, not the delusion that it doesn’t exist.”
The event at BAM was one of many celebrations happening throughout the city.
In Brooklyn over the weekend, the group called Seeds in the Middle marked its 14th annual weekend of community service. Young students volunteered by putting together healthy lunches for the meal in Brownsville.
Also over the weekend, two retired NYPD officers were honored for stopping a woman from trying to set King’s birthplace on fire.
Kenny and Axel Dodson were visiting the home in Atlanta when they noticed the woman and jumped into action.
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