ALPLM Marks MLK Day With Speech, Service Events

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 19, with a series of events honoring the civil rights leader’s legacy and encouraging community service.

The centerpiece of the day will be a live reading of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech by actor Reggie Guyton. The performances are scheduled for 11 a.m. and noon in the museum’s main plaza.

King originally delivered the speech in 1963 from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during a major civil rights march in Washington, D.C. In the address, he praised Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation as “a great beacon light of hope,” while emphasizing that African Americans continued to face segregation and discrimination.

“Dr. King’s powerful words both connect us to the past and push us to build a better future,” said Christina Shutt, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. “Every American should reflect on King’s message, and there’s no better way to do that than by hearing the speech delivered live. Reggie Guyton’s performance is always touching.”

In keeping with the holiday’s designation as a national day of service, the museum will host a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The ImpactLife Blood Mobile will be parked in front of the museum entrance at 212 North Sixth Street. Appointments can be scheduled through BloodCenter.org. ImpactLife supplies blood to local hospitals, including Springfield Memorial Hospital and HSHS St. John’s Hospital.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to take part in one of the museum’s informal “Four Score and More” presentations. Dr. Racquel Henry will speak at 11:15 a.m. about the connections between King’s speech, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Lincoln Memorial, followed by a question-and-answer session.

Additional activities include free public skating at Union Square Park from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., with complimentary hot chocolate for skaters. Skates will be available at historic Union Station. While skating is free, donations are encouraged to help cover skate maintenance costs.

More information about Martin Luther King Jr. Day events and other programming is available at PresidentLincoln.illinois.gov.