PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — As Martin Luther King Jr. Day approaches, here in Philadelphia, Mayor Jim Kenney kicked off the announcement for the 28th Annual Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service.
Kenney says the event has been a long-standing tradition.
“For more than 28 years, more than 2 million people of all ages and backgrounds throughout our region have honored Dr. King's life and legacy of social justice by participating in the Greater Philadelphia King Day of service,” he said.
Kenney also presented the 25th annual Harris Wofford Active Citizenship Award, named after the former U.S. Senator who fought for civil rights, to Scott Charles, who is the trauma outreach manager at Temple University Hospital.
Todd Bernstein, president of Global Citizen, and founder and director of the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service said events will surround not only honoring Doctor King but also championing anti-gun violence.
“King was a victim of gun violence in 1968,” he said. “55 years later hundreds of precious lives were lost to gun violence last year.”
Related
The MLK Day events will range from a rally for Social Justice to anti-gun violence discussions. The rally will feature a presentation on the culture of civil rights activism, and break-out sessions on gun violence.
Bernstein says the violence in the city — and across the country — goes beyond being a law enforcement or governmental problem.
“It is a societal tragedy, or as Dr. King used to say, the fierce urgency of now,” he said.
Most importantly, Bernstein says the purpose of MLK Day must be made clear.
“King's Birthday isn’t just a birthday celebration,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to make his legacy of fighting for racial and social Justice our mission too.”