COLOMBIA – For the first time in 20 years, King Day at the Dome was different.
Typically, thousands of residents flocked to the steps of the South Carolina State House to remember the life and legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
But on Monday, NAACP state chapter leaders held the annual King Day ceremony online amid the COVID-19 pandemic and heightened fears of civil unrest after President Donald Trump’s defeat.
But despite the format change, South Carolina’s NAACP leaders and other guest speakers on the live broadcast stated that King’s wisdom is needed now more than ever as they worked to resolve the question “Where do we go from here?” ? ” after the tumultuous events of 2020.
Brenda Murphy, president of the SC State Conference for the NAACP, said that looking at King’s teachings in a post-Trump era will be crucial.
“We must do what is necessary to maintain our democratic society, a very necessary effort that has been so magnified by the events of the past four years and even more on January 6 of last week,” said Murphy, referring to the day when hundreds of pro-Trump protesters stormed the US Capitol.
“Wake up. We have to work. We shouldn’t lose sight of what Dr. King’s message was for us.”
Emphasizing conversations about racial justice and addressing the economic disparity in the black community was the COVID-19 pandemic, which infected more than 400,000 South Carolina residents and left more than 6,000 dead.
South Carolina State Epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell also spoke during the virtual rally. In her comments, she encouraged the black community to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and said she understands that past injustices can dissuade some from receiving the injection.
But she called on King, and his message about building a strong support system for those around him, to encourage public awareness of the vaccine.
“As Dr. King said, ‘We are interrelated,'” said Bell. “Being vaccinated will help protect you, help protect your family, help protect our entire community.”
Monday’s King Day at the Dome was the first time the rally has not been held live since the beginning of 2000.
The meeting began as a vocal reaction to the Confederate flag flying at the top of the capitol dome. The demonstrations continued when the flag was moved near a monument on the Statehouse grounds as part of a deal.
King’s Day at the Dome helped propel a boycott of 15-year-old tourism to the state, which was honored by the NCAA and other groups until the flag was completely removed from the site.
In addition, King Day became a political magnet for Democratic presidential candidates before the South Carolina primary election. Eight candidates, including now-elected President Joe Biden, attended the rally last year.
US Representative Jim Clyburn, whose timely endorsement in last year’s primaries helped push Biden into the presidency, also spoke during the live broadcast on Tuesday. Although he did not directly address politics, the Democratic majority leader in the House called on everyone to dedicate their lives to public service.
“Our hope in celebrating this day is that you will dedicate yourself again to what King stood for,” said Clyburn. “And that was a life of service and commitment for and on behalf of others.”
Celebrated annually on the third Monday in January, MLK Jr. Day honors the life and legacy of the civil rights leader. King’s birthday is January 15th. He was murdered about 53 years ago in Memphis, Tenn.
Reach Thomas Novelly at 843-937-5713. Follow him @TomNovelly on Twitter.