Congresswoman Barbara Lee Commemorates Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Death at the Grand Reopening of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN

Oakland, CA – Friday, April 4th, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) will lead a delegation of seven East Bay students to the reopening of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN, which was built around the historic Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Congresswoman Lee will participate in several events, including speaking at ‘Breaking of the Chains Official Opening Ceremony” with remarks and a reading of names of Civil Rights leaders in a roll call.

 

The museum was first opened in 1991 and will re-open after extensive renovations April 5, 2014.  The museum will house emotionally hard-hitting exhibits that feature informative interactive displays,  historic scenes of the many battles for freedom and Civil Rights, and a powerful display of statues of chained and branded African American men sitting in a line on the deck of a creaking slave ship headed across the ocean. 

 

The re-opening ceremony will include Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Oakland’s own Bobby Seale, former Black Panther Party leader and national champion in the fight for justice, civil rights and freedom.

 

The seven students from the Alameda and Oakland School Districts are delegates from the Martin Luther King Freedom Center and participate in the organizations non-violence and leadership development programs.

 

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL, COMMEMORATING THE 46TH ANNIVERSARY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.’S ASSASSINATION

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm  EST

 

FREEDOM FORWARD PARADE              

From Cook Convention Center along Second Street to Vance to Main passing by the museum

9:30 am – 10:45 am  EST

 

BREAKING OF THE CHAINS OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY

11:00 pm– 12:30 pm EST

 

* All events will be held at the National Civil Rights Museum, 450 Mulberry Street, Memphis TN 38103