Detroit Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Rally & March to Be Held Monday, January 18

Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire, holding microphone at Detroit MLK Day March on Washington Blvd. downtown, January 15, 2007. (Photo: Robert Akrawi).
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos

For Immediate Release

Event: Detroit Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Rally & March
Date: January 18, 2010, Noon
Venue: Central United Methodist Church, Woodward at Adams
Sponsor: Detroit MLK Planning Committee
Contact: 313.671.3715 or 702.5558
E-mail: panafnewswire@gmail.com or panw@africamail.com
URL: http://www.mecawi.org

2010 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rally & March to Call for Jobs, Peace & Justice

This year will mark the seventh annual MLK Day Rally & March in
downtown Detroit. The event will honor the peace and social justice
legacy of the martyred civil rights leader who would have been 81
years old. The theme for 2010 is: "Join the Struggle for Jobs, Peace
and Economic Justice" and will enjoy the participation of many
activists from throughout the metropolitan area.

With the unemployment rates in Detroit at depression-era levels of
29-45 percent, depending upon how it is calculated, the current crisis
requires the initiation of a new mass movement to demand a real jobs program to employ the 30-34 million people in the United States who are either unemployed or underemployed.

At the same time, the escalation of the war in Afghanistan and the
continuing occupation of Iraq is draining the national treasury of
over $700 billion annually. These resources should be utilized to
create millions of jobs, health care for all, universal quality
education and housing for residents of the country.

Participants in this year's MLK Day will be honored with the presence
of keynote speaker Rev. Edward Pinkney of the NAACP in Benton Harbor. Rev. Pinkney, a recently released political prisoner in Michigan, who challenged racism in Berrien County and won his release through a State Appeals' Court decision, continues to advocate on behalf of the poor and working people of the southwest region of Michigan.

In addition, Rev. Tom Smith of Pittsburgh will also address the rally
and march on the struggle for jobs and economic justice in the present period. Rev. Smith, the pastor of Monumental Baptist Church and a leader in Pastors for Peace, was a key organizer of the demonstrations surrounding the G20 Summit, including the National March for Jobs held in Pittsburgh in September.

City Councilwoman JoAnn Watson, a longtime supporter of MLK Day in Detroit, will welcome the participants. A poster contest invovling
Detroit area students is encouraging youth initiative and leadership.
Detroit recording artists Big A and Invincible will perform during the
afternoon cultural program.

In the spirit of Dr. King's call to service, please bring donations of
warm winter wear items for the Homeless Outreach Program at Central United Methodist Church.

For more information just contact the Detroit MLK Planning Committee at 313.671.3715.

Abayomi Azikiwe,
Media Liaison