ATLANTA — The Atlanta metro and the nation paused Monday to remember civil rights leader and Atlanta’s own Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. some 50 years after his assassination. Dr. King would have been 89 on Monday.
Parades and marches were held throughout the day and volunteers led community service projects to honor King.
One of the biggest services in King’s honor happened at his home church, Ebenezer Baptist Church in northeast Atlanta, where his daughter Bernice served as the keynote speaker.
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Channel 2's Dave Huddleston sat in on the service, where Bernice King brought the congregation to its feet, saying it's time for a revolution that unites mankind through her father's teachings of love and nonviolence.
"If we don't reconnect to the movement that changed people and changed systems, all we are doing is having a revolt," King told the congregation, which overflowed outside the church.
Many of the speakers at the ceremony talked of unity, but others condemned the tone coming from the White House, and from President Donald Trump in particular.
"It makes a mockery of the man we remember. Mr. Trump, you need to repent," Rev. Raphael Warnock said.
Ginger Howard, committee woman with the Georgia Republicans, stunned the crowd by asking for forgiveness for slavery.
"I want to publicly say I am sorry and I want you to know, and I want you to know from the bottom of my heart, I want unity and I want us all to have unity," Howard said.
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After the service, McDonough residents Patrick Chesley and his granddaughter, Alexia, told Huddleston the message from Monday’s service was one of unity and inspiration.
"It was riveting, wonderful. I tell you, we both were up dancing and clapping our hands and we took some video shots but it was just awesome," Chesley said.
Following Monday’s service, the congregation moved to the streets for the King Week Holiday March and Rally.
Channel 2's Rikki Klaus followed hundreds of marchers, who wove their way from downtown to Jackson Street.
The peaceful event kicked off at Auburn Avenue and Peacthree Street, amid music and police protection.
Hundreds wove their way through the streets. Many held signs that represented different causes, everything from fair wages and equality to clean energy and registering to vote.
Jason Dees brought his kids to experience the rally. He remembers King with the utmost respect.
“He taught Americans what we really believe in. Freedom for all men. Opportunity for all,” Dees told Klaus.
Susan Blakely, who held a workers’ rights sign, was among the crowd.
“I’m here to support civil rights, no matter what they might be. Workers’ rights. People’s rights,” Blakely said.
The marchers stopped in front of the church where Dr. King preached, Ebenezer Baptist Church, on Auburn Avenue. They celebrated with a happy birthday song for Dr. King and dancing.
The security was tight, with Atlanta police all along the parade route and dump trucks blocking roads.
People across the metro Atlanta area were using their day off to be of service to their communities, in honor of King's legacy.
"He’s from here. We need to represent for him, as though he was here today. He has to live on through all of us," Blakely said.
Some people across the metro honored Dr. King through community service.
People helped clean up Brook Run Park and planted trees in Dunwoody. Some people visited a local senior center and donated food items and clothing.
“They're going to be doing a variety of projects around the city. It's actually kind of cool because they get to pick the project that, sort of, most suits their desire to serve,” Jennifer Long said.
Channel 2's Fred Blankenship hosted another MLK celebration in Cobb County at the Turner Chapel AME Church.
The event was filled with live performances and speeches and hosted by the Cobb County NAACP. The theme this year is "Pursuing Liberties in the Face of Injustice.”
Channel 2's Audrey Washington was on Flat Shoals Parkway in DeKalb County as hundreds of people participated in the 16th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade on Monday.
Washington spoke to a fifth-grader about King's message that lives on today.
"He fought for all races," the student said. "It's fun to learn about history."
Cox Media Group
