During a Thursday presentation outlining this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day events, Dr. Bernice King said she believes the “soul of humanity is under siege” in today’s social and political climate.
But with many in despair nationally, she said nonviolence remains a mandate — along with accountability when injustice arises, and “a commitment to the well-being of all people.”
She spoke amid heightened national division and as political leaders across the country responded to recent shootings involving federal agents in Portland and Minnesota, where a 37-year-old mother was killed.
“We are living in a time when violence, displacement and dehumanization are being normalized,” King said, describing the Minnesota shooting as “heartbreaking and unacceptable.”
King said the work of The King Center and the annual holiday programming is especially relevant in the current moment.
“We’re training people to practice nonviolence as a way of life and to transform conditions that allow violence to thrive,” said King, who serves as CEO of The King Center.
A week of King Holiday activities is planned leading up to the annual commemorative service on Jan. 19, honoring what would have been Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 97th birthday and marking the 41st observance of the federal holiday.
This year’s theme is “Mission Possible II: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Nonviolent Way.” The King Center describes it as “a blueprint for action” intended to guide programming, outreach, and community-building efforts.
King said the presence of federal immigration enforcement on city streets has contributed to fear and uncertainty nationwide.
“People are anxious, weary, retreating into silos, tribes… and echo chambers because despair has convinced them that hope is naive and community is impossible,” she said.
King Holiday Observance Highlights
Corporate and nonprofit leaders will discuss solutions for strengthening safety and unity within communities during the Beloved Community Global Summit, scheduled for Jan. 15 and Jan. 16 at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
Panelists include Jill Savitt, president and CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights; King; Paige Alexander, CEO of The Carter Center; John Hope Bryant, founder and CEO of Operation Hope Inc.; and Richard Rothstein, author of “The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America,” among others.
The schedule also includes film screenings, such as the short documentary “Hoops, Hopes and Dreams,” which explores how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., former President Barack Obama, and other leaders used basketball to connect with young people.
The MLK Jr. Beloved Community Awards, recognizing individuals and organizations that exemplify leadership and a commitment to social justice, will take place Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. Honorees include actor and producer Viola Davis, who will receive the Beloved Community Coretta Scott King Woman Soul of the Nation Award.
Mónica Ramírez, founder and president of Justice for Migrant Women, will receive the Beloved Community Social Justice Award. Other honorees include Billie Eilish, who will be recognized with the Beloved Community Environmental Justice Award.
Gloria James, the mother of NBA star LeBron James, is expected to accept the Beloved Community Youth Influencer Award on his behalf.
A full list of events is available on The King Center website.
Calls for Engagement
During Thursday’s press event, King described the current moment as one of “global alarm” and said it is “not the hour to shrink” from engaging in solutions for change.
In Portland, Mayor Keith Wilson echoed calls for unity, saying during a press conference, “This is a time to hold each other close, to stand together, to remember strength has always come from community, compassion and solidarity.”
In Minnesota, Gov. Tim Walz urged restraint, saying, “We have to do our best to not play into temptation to react violently,” even when others express opposition with a “bullhorn.”
King said her father warned that increased racism, militarism, and extreme materialism could take hold if love and humanity were not placed at the center of public life.
Now, she said, is a moment that calls for engagement.
“Building community is not someone else’s job. It is your job. My job. Our collective mandate is to choose the nonviolent way,” King said. “…The soul of humanity, the future of democracy, and the moral direction of our world are at stake.”
