Mike Wolanin | The Republic Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop welcomes guests to the annual Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast at The Commons in Columbus, Ind., Monday, Jan. 20, 2020.
COLUMBUS, Ind. — The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day events have been rescheduled in Columbus.
The annual free breakfast organized by the local African American Pastors Alliance has been rescheduled for 8:30 a.m. Feb. 19 for a limited crowd of 250 people at The Commons, 300 Washington St. in downtown Columbus. Fred King, one of the organizers, said the Saturday date will still allow students to participate, since they would be in class on any other weekday selected.
People must have free tickets to be admitted because of crowd limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tickets can be obtained by leaving a message for the pastors alliance at 812-371-8624.
A city policy for The Commons requires masks to be worn when visitors are not eating.
“Should COVID numbers greatly increase, we will still have the program, but announce several days in advance that we are switching to virtual via Facebook Live,” King said.
Last year’s King day events were held virtually.
The Rev. Jane Sims of Calvary Community Church will be the speaker on the topic “We’ve Come This Far By Faith.” Sims has long been a voice for racial harmony and racial justice in Bartholomew County. Also, she and her husband, Bishop Charles Sims, have been recognized community leaders since the 1970s.
A youth-oriented King day program will begin at 9:30 a.m. following the breakfast, according to 0rganizer Paulette Roberts, a retired teacher and leader of the Columbus Enrichment Program.
The separate, free program coordinated by the Columbus/Bartholomew County Area Chapter of the NAACP, IUPUC and the African American Fund of Bartholomew County has been rescheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at The Commons with Dr. Woody Myers, the former governor candidate, as the keynote speaker.
For the complete story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
