Commemoration of Martin Luther King Day 2019 featuring "The March"
January 31, 2019
On January 31, 2019, Public Affairs Section (PAS) Abidjan commemorated Martin Luther King Day through a conference based on the ‘La marche sur Washington’, an excerpt from the Nouveaux Horizons title ‘Martin Luther King: Autobiographie’
The conference held in French and English gathered about 140 participants comprising the civil society, human right advocates, academia, and religious leaders. The panel members included TV presenter, Christelle Meledje, who participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) 2019 Edward R. Murrow Program on Media Responsibility in an Age of Disinformation.
Following the screening of the video ‘The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom’, the discussion highlighted importance of the organization of a peaceful demonstration gathering various civil right groups and interracial communities of more than 200,000 marchers for a common interest: equal rights for all citizens.
To focus on the spirit of nonviolence and harmony prevailed during the march, the attendees sang the choir song ‘We Shall Overcome’. PAS Abidjan distributed copies of the DVD on ‘The March’ to the heads of institutions. One of the inspiring elements of the march was Martin Luther King’s emotional and prophetic speech ‘I Have a Dream’.
The participants appreciated the relevance of such a program in connection with Cote d’Ivoire’s upcoming elections. This activity enhanced Mission’s support to strengthen democratic institutions and citizens’ participation to the nation’s political and social life.
