Martin Luther King III will visit Liverpool next month to take part in Slavery Remembrance Day. Mr King is the eldest son of Mrs Coretta Scott King and Dr Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr King was one of the most important figures of the 20th Century and one of the greatest non-violent leaders in world history. In particular Dr King is known for his advancement of civil rights in America and the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Dr King’s tireless work in the campaign to fight human injustice ended tragically due to his assassination aged 39 in Memphis in 1968.
Like his father, Mr King is a human rights campaigner and community activist. He is a lifetime member of the Board of Directors and former President and CEO of The King Center in Atlanta Georgia.
Mr King is currently involved in global humanitarian efforts and voter registration initiatives throughout the United States and abroad.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson will welcome Mr King to the city.
Slavery Remembrance Day has been commemorated in Liverpool every 23 August since 1999. It is organised by National Museums Liverpool in partnership with Liverpool City Council.
Three days of free activity are planned around Slavery Remembrance Day in which Mr King will play a key role on the Wednesday and Thursday:
- A Family Day at International Slavery Museum on Saturday 18 August.
- The Memorial lecture by Mr King at St George’s Hall 7pm Wednesday 22 August.
- Building dedication of the Dock Traffic Office at Albert Dock on 12.30am Thursday 23 August. The building is to be renamed “The Dr Martin Luther King Jr Building”.
- A Walk of Remembrance through Liverpool city centre and libation ceremony on
Thursday 23 August.
Details about all the Slavery Remembrance Day events: www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/slavery
Details of how to get free tickets for Mr King’s lecture: www.stgeorgesliverpool.co.uk
Mr King’s involvement in the three day programme has come about following a chance meeting thousands of miles away.
Cheryl Magowan, Communities Senior Manager at National Museums Liverpool, was paying her respects at the gravesite of Dr Martin Luther King Jr and Mrs Coretta Scott-King at the King Center in Atlanta last year, when she met their eldest son, Mr Martin Luther King III.
Cheryl said: “It was a powerful moment I’ll never forget, I sat, said a prayer and thought deeply about what the great Dr King did for black people and all of humanity, I looked up and standing in front of me was Mr King and his wife.
“Then the King Center’s security guard Kevin, whom I’d made friends with earlier said: ‘Cheryl you’re blessed today, I’d like you to meet the boss man himself, Mr Martin Luther King III, Dr King’s son and his wife’.
“I then invited Mr and Mrs King to visit Liverpool, the International Slavery Museum and to take part in Slavery Remembrance Day, which they graciously accepted.”
Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: “The slave trade is a hugely significant part in Liverpool’s history and we have made a pledge as a city that it will never be forgotten.
“Our Slavery Remembrance Day commemorations are an important date in our calendar, bringing the whole city together to remember those who suffered as a result of the slave trade and to celebrate the wonderful cultural diversity which exists in our city.
“This year’s celebrations are set to be momentous with the arrival of Martin Luther King III. Mr King and his father are an inspiration to us all. They are real symbols of how, by working together, we can achieve equality for people of all races, cultures and backgrounds.”
Next month sees the fifth birthday of the International Slavery Museum which opened in 2007. The Dock Traffic Office at the Albert Dock will be re-named The Dr Martin Luther King Jr Building in tribute to the civil rights leader who was one of the driving forces for tackling racism and inequality in Americain the 1960s. Dr King is an iconic and inspirational figure known worldwide for his non-violent methods and his famous “I Have A Dream” speech in 1963.
The longer term plan for the Dock Traffic Office, dependant on funding, is to expand the International Slavery Museum into this building.
Claire Benjamin, Head of Communities at National Museums Liverpool, said: “Slavery Remembrance Day grows in strength each year. We are thrilled to have Mr King attend this year and for him to be delivering the lecture as well as dedicate the Dock Traffic Office in memory of his father.”
About Mr Martin Luther King III
Martin Luther King III is the oldest son of Dr Martin Luther King Jr and Mrs Coretta Scott King and is carrying the torch lit by both his parents into the 21stcentury. Mr King is a lifetime member of the Board of Directors and former President and CEO of The King Center in Atlanta Georgia. Mr King is currently involved in global humanitarian efforts and voter registration initiatives throughout the United States and abroad. A full biography and photograph of Mr King is available on request. Additional information is located at: www.thekingcenter.org
About National Museums Liverpool
National Museums Liverpool comprises eight venues. Our collections are among the most important and varied in Europe and contain everything from Impressionist paintings and rare beetles to a lifejacket from the Titanic. We attract more than three million visitors every year. Our venues are World Museum, Museum of Liverpool, the Walker Art Gallery, Merseyside Maritime Museum, International Slavery Museum, UK Border Agency National Museum, Sudley House and the Lady Lever Art Gallery.
About the International Slavery Museum
The International Slavery Museum opened in August 2007. It is situated on the third floor of the Merseyside Maritime Museum at the Albert Dock. This summer it will welcome its two millionth visitor. It is the only museum of its kind to look at aspects of historical and contemporary slavery as well as being an international hub for resources on human rights issues.
