East Texas Honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

EAST TEXAS — A number of events occurred around East Texas in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, including activities in Tyler and Longview. Again in 2016, the Tyler Together Race Relations Forum sponsored Tyler’s city-wide community celebration honoring Dr. King, with hundreds turning out. This year’s theme was “Unity in Our Community.” The celebration kicked off with a short program on the downtown square, with participants gathering at 9am. The annual parade began at 9:30am from the square, heading south on Broadway to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

The main program kicked off at 10am. The featured speaker was a native Tylerite, international singer, songwriter, and actress Lina. The top entries from this year’s student essay and visual arts contests were recognized during the program, along with Christina Fulsom of the East Texas Human Needs Network. Fulsom is the winner of the Rev. Jerome R. Milton Community Service Award, named for the founder of the annual MLK event.

Longview wrapped up a series of events that began over the weekend. The MLK Planning Committee, the City of Longview, and other community sponsors did the organizing under the theme “The Dream: Only Love Can.” Things got going Monday with the Table of Brotherhood Breakfast at 8:00am at the Jalapeno Tree. The MLK March began at 11:30am at Broughton Recreation Center and ended at Mt. Olive Baptist Church. The MLK Memorial Service began at noon at Mt. Olive Baptist Church on South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The guest speaker was Rev. Cary Hilliard of First Baptist Church, Longview.