Cambridge MLK Day Commemoration and Remembrance

Cambridge's Annual MLK Day Commemoration and Remembrance
Monday, January 18, 2016 • 11:00 AM
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Central Sq., Cambridge

In this time of renewed focus on the challenges of racism, fear, and threats of violence – and on action for peace, justice, and sustainability – please join us as we remember and celebrate the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:

* 11:00 AM to 12:45 PM: Celebration of Dr. King's Life and Work for Peace, Justice, and Transformation • inside St. Peter's Episcopal Church • 838 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
* 12:45 to 1:45 PM: Lunch and Gathering at the Church • In the undercroft (basement) at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church • 838 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
For directions to St. Peter's, visit www.saintpeterscambridge.org

In 1967, Martin Luther King described what he saw as the most serious challenge for our society. In his words, "We must rapidly begin the shift from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered." Almost 50 years later, the United States still faces these three existential challenges to our values as a nation.

The City of Cambridge will honor and remember Dr. King and his legacy as we gather at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church to hear members of the Cambridge community share readings of Dr. King’s words calling for peace, justice and transformation, as well as music from Véronique Epiter and members of Cambridge’s Episcopal churches. We will also feature remarks from Juliette Kayyem, a Cambridge resident and granddaughter of Lebanese immigrants who is rethinking "security" in ways that connect traditional concerns with the need to make our society resilient, just, and equitable. Currently, Juliette serves on the faculty at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. She is an on-air security analyst for CNN and hosts a regular podcast entitled "Security Mom" for WGBH, Boston’s local NPR station. Previously, she was President Obama’s Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security.

For more information about what is happening that day, visit www.cambridgema.gov/peace.