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Third Annual
Observation of Dr. King’s A Time to Break Silence
This Sunday, March 31
By Lynne Hamer, PhD, Event Organizer
Special to The Truth
On Sunday, March 31 at 3:30 p.m. community groups from
across the region will come together to gain and give
inspiration from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s radical vision
calling for new values. This third annual reading of the
speech will take place at Monroe Street United Methodist
Church, 3613 Monroe Street in Toledo.
This event has developed into a much-loved time for citizens
to meet others who are active in promoting the well-being of
our democratic community and nation. It has been said that
people should be active in one or a few causes, but should
know about other causes so as to be able to support them.
This event provides that opportunity.
The more than 30 participating organizations include:
Advocates for a Clean Lake Erie;
African American Parents’ Association; American Civil
Liberties Union; Black Lives Matter; Communication Workers
of America; Community Solidarity Response Network;
Disability Studies at The University of Toledo; Freedom
School; Junction Neighborhood; Kairos Prison Ministry; Lucas
County Human Trafficking Coalition; Monroe Street Church;
Monroe
Street Neighborhood Center;
Multi Faith Council; NAACP-Toledo Branch; National
Association of Social Workers; Peace Education & Peace
Studies at The University of Toledo; People Called Women;
Prism of TSA; Sacred Grounds Toledo; Toledo Affiliation of
Black School Educators;
Toledo Area Jobs with Justice / Interfaith Worker Justice;
Toledo Campus Ministry; Toledo
Community Coalition; Toledo Kwanzaa House; Toledo Public
Schools Department of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion;
Toledo Sister Cities International; United Pastors for
Social Empowerment; Veterans for Peace; WAKT 106.1 FM;
Welcome Toledo-Lucas County; and Women of Toledo.
In April of 1967, Dr. King delivered his famous speech,
Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence, at the
Riverside Church in New York City. The title indicates the
scope and timelessness of the speech. Dr. King described it
as going “beyond
the calling of race or nation or creed” to the calling,
often cast in religious terms, for people of means to speak
for the “suffering and helpless and outcast.”
The speech was delivered one year
to the day prior to Dr. King’s assassination.
This year’s event will begin with a musical prelude at
3:30. Clarence Smith, music director for Monroe Street
United Methodist Church, described the prelude as
representing many musical traditions coming together for the
cause, in the same way that Dr. King’s words called on
people to come together across different concerns to speak
with one voice. Gospel, steel drum, spiritual, and
Vietnam-era protest music will be featured.
As a special addition, Tyrone Cleveland, representing
Freedom School, will present excerpts from King’s “I Have a
Dream” sermon. Tyrone is in the third grade at TPS’s Martin
Luther King Academy.
Asked why
he would participate for a third year, Clarence Gafeney
responded simply with a quote from another great leader,
John F. Kennedy: “Ask
not what your country can
do for you, ask what you can do for your country." Gafeney
has represented the NAACP-Toledo in past years, but this
year will represent the
Lucas County Human Trafficking Coalition. In his place, he
recruited the president of the NAACP-Toledo, Ray Wood, to
read for that organization.
The public is encouraged to attend this free event, which is
appropriate for all ages and is accessible for people with
disabilities.
This event will focus entirely on the speech, with no additional
commentary or statements from participating organizations.
Everyone is invited to stay for refreshments and
conversation inspired by the thoughts of Dr. King. During
this time, information from many of the organizations will
be available.
For more information about the location, visit the website
http://www.monroestumc.com/, email
info@monroestumc.com,
or contact Monroe Street Church
staff at 419-473-1167. To
learn more about the event, connect via FB
Monroe Street Church Toledo.
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