M.L. King Day events start Wednesday (16th)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.timesfreepress.com/absolutenm/templates/local.aspx?articleid=28359&zoneid=77

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

By Yolanda Putman
Staff Writer

A children's conference on gang violence and a forum about legal disparities will be among events included in a weeklong celebration of the life of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"The civil rights movement was a part of the process for equality, but it didn't finish the business," said Quenston Coleman, chairman of the M.L. King Day Celebration.

Mr. Coleman is expected to be among more than 125 people attending the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth Conference at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. Thousands are expected to participate in the citywide activities, organizers said.

The children's conference is among a half dozen events leading up to the main program at the Tivoli Theatre at 5 p.m. Monday. Diane Nash, a founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, will be the speaker. Ms. Nash, of Chicago, was chairwoman of the sit-in movement to desegregate lunch counters in Nashville in 1960. She also coordinated the Freedom Ride from Birmingham, Ala., to Jackson, Miss., in 1961.

Mr. Coleman said the goal of the M.L. King events is to focus on fulfilling Dr. King's dream for social and economic justice and to make sure that younger generations know the progress the country has made toward equality.

Attorney Sonya Madison of Miller & Martin will be among attorneys participating in a forum at 6 p.m. Thursday on legal concerns, including health care and employment, as well as sentencing disparities between those convicted of selling crack compared with cocaine.

FULL story at link.