The weekend events celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Salisbury will begin today with a program at the W.G. “Bill” V.A. Medical Center where civil rights activist DeeDee Wright is slated to be the guest speaker.
Wright, who is also a former educator, will speak during a program to be held in the Social Room, Building No. 6, at 1 p.m.
The theme for her presentation is “Not Where We’ve Been, But Where We Are Going.”
The King celebration is in its 28th year and is planned each year by the Salisbury-Rowan Human Relations Council and its many volunteers.
The V.A. is located at located at 1601 Brenner Ave., Salisbury.
Activities will continue Saturday with a parade, which has in the past, been held the Monday of the breakfast.
Tickets for the breakfast can be purchased in advance or Jan. 20 at the J.F. Hurley YMCA, where the event will be held.
Anyone who would like buy a ticket before the breakfast can do so at the following locations:
• The Bible Bookstore, 314 S Main St., Salisbury
• Salisbury-Rowan County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, 204 East Innes St., Suite 120, Salisbury
• Rowan County Administration Building, Human Resources Office, 130 W. Innes St., Salisbury
• Salisbury City Hall, 217 S. Main St., Salisbury
The activities for this weekend’s celebration are as follows:
• Saturday, Jan. 18, 11 a.m.
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade will be held at the corner of Kerr and North Main streets and will end at Livingstone College.
Following the parade, activities celebrating King will be held from 12:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the Miller Recreation Center located at 1420 West Bank St.
• Sunday, Jan. 19, 3 p.m.
Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, located at 1920 Shirley Ave., will host the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Awards.
• Monday, Jan. 20, 7:30 a.m.
The Salisbury-Rowan Human Relations Council will host the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast and Program. The breakfast will be held at the J. F. Hurley YMCA, 828 West Jake Alexander Blvd. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased in advance or the day of the event.
• Monday, Jan. 20, 9:30 a.m.
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Ceremony will be held at Oak Grove Freedman’s Cemetery located at the corner of Liberty and North Church streets.
For more information, visit www.srhrc.org, call 704-638-5217 or 704-638-5220.