Eventful day in Birmingham remembering Martin Luther King, Jr. and honoring civil rights leaders

MLK Birmingham
50th Anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. observed on April 4, 2018 at Kelly Ingram Park. Photo by Kristina O’Quinn for Bham Now.

Earlier this week,  the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s assassination was commemorated  with activities and events around Kelly Ingram Park, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and 16th Street Baptist Church.  The day-long observance culminated in the evening with the Birmingham Metro Southern Christian Leadership Conference  hosting their annual Keeper of the Dream Awards Banquet.  The event was headlined by Apple CEO and Alabama native Tim Cook.

Honorees at the SCLC awards banquet included:

Apple CEO Tim Cook received the Human Rights Award.

Isabel Rubio, Executive Director of the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama was presented SCLC’s Keeper of the Dream Civil Rights Award

Robert Dickerson Jr., Executive Director of the Birmingham Business Resource Center was awarded the Economic Justice award.

DeJuana Thompson, creator of “Woke Vote” was given the Voting Rights Award.

It was a day of remembrance and hope in the Magic City. Below is a series of inspirational photos documenting the day’s events taken by Bham Now’s own Kristina O’Quinn.

DSC 0459 Eventful day in Birmingham remembering Martin Luther King, Jr. and honoring civil rights leaders
At Kelly Ingram Park. Photo by Kristina O’Quinn for Bham Now.
Kelly Ingram Park
Event held in observance of the 50th Anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4, 2018 at Kelly Ingram Park. Photo by Kristina O’Quinn for Bham Now
Birmingham Alabama
Tim Cook, Apple CEO was was presented SCLC’s Keeper of the Dream Civil Rights Award on April 4, 2018 .Photo by Kristina O’Quinn for Bham Now.
Tim Cook
SCLC honored Tim Cook with the Keeper of the Dream Civil Rights Award on April 4, 2018 .Photo by Kristina O’Quinn for Bham Now.
Birmingham
Isabel Rubio, Executive Director of the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama was presented SCLC’s Keeper of the Dream Civil Rights Award on April 4, 2018 .Photo by Kristina O’Quinn for Bham Now.
Birmingham Alabama
Robert Dickerson Jr., Executive Director of the Birmingham Business Resource Center was awarded SCLC’s Keeper of the Dream Economic Justice award on April 4, 2018 .Photo by Kristina O’Quinn for Bham Now.
edit DSC 0557 Eventful day in Birmingham remembering Martin Luther King, Jr. and honoring civil rights leaders
DeJuana Thompson, creator of “Woke Vote” was given the Voting Rights Award at the SCLC’s Keeper of the Dream Award  Banquet on April 4, 2018 .Photo by Kristina O’Quinn for Bham Now.
Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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