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Observances Planned Monday to Honor Martin Luther King Jr.

Jan. 12, 2007 – Residents across the territory will gather Monday to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a commemoration of the civil rights leader's 78th birthday.
On St. John, the St. John Interfaith Coalition observance begins with a ceremony at 9 a.m. on the basketball court behind Guy Benjamin School in Coral Bay. At 10 a.m., a motorcade leaves Coral Bay for Cruz Bay. A procession from the public tennis courts to Cruz Bay Park begins at 9:45 a.m. Another ceremony will be held in Cruz Bay Park at 11 a.m.
Both programs include students reading selections from King's speeches and guest speakers offering reflections. Choirs from local churches will also sing spirituals.
Millicent Carpenter is the keynote speaker.
Committee member Beverly Biziewski said Carpenter is a retired public health nurse who lives on St. Thomas.
"She knew Martin Luther King. She marched with him," Biziewski said Friday.
The programs end with a community luncheon in Cruz Bay Park.
On St. Croix, a march begins at 10 a.m. at the Plaza Extra shopping center in Sion Farm. Marchers will walk about a mile to Island Center for a rally that starts at 11 a.m.
The event is organized by the Central Labor Council of the Virgin Islands.
"We need to keep the dream alive," committee chairwoman Antoinette Rampersad said Friday.
She said the rally includes a tribute to King, as well as labor leader Ralph Mandrew; and two members of the Central Labor Council's Civil Rights Committee — Shelia Middleton and Gregory Bennerson. All three died in the past year.
Rampersad said that the event will also honor labor leader and community activist George Flores.
She said Delegate Donna M. Christensen will be the keynote speaker.
No one sent press releases about events on St. Thomas to the Source and calls to several government departments did not turn up any information.
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