2016 Kennedy-King Memorial Celebration scheduled for Monday, April 4

I recently received the information below and wanted to ensure that you had a chance to see it, as well.

Some of you may recall that I possess a treasured family link to the night of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy’s speech here in Indianapolis. My grandfather was at that time a member of the City Council (this was pre-Unigov, remember) and he was present to hear Sen. Kennedy’s speech in person.

Of course, I pestered my grandfather to tell and re-tell the stories about that night and the impact it had on him. The entire community of Indianapolis, in fact, felt the impact.

My grandfather’s primary observation was that only Robert F. Kennedy had experienced that kind of loss—and he possessed the courage, skills and grace to relate that loss—speaking from the back of a flatbed truck to a somber, angry and restless crowd that night in a small park on the city’s near-Northside.

Please forward this email to anyone you feel may share an interest. Thank you.

Kennedy-King Memorial Celebration set for Monday, April 4

INDIANAPOLIS — This year’s observance of U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy’s historic Indianapolis speech on the night of Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. April 4 at the Kennedy King Memorial, located at the Martin Luther King, Jr., Park, located at 17th and Broadway in Indianapolis.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett will serve as the keynote speaker for the event, which is conducted annually to observe the talk Sen. Kennedy gave here in the wake of Dr. King’s death, a speech that is widely credited for easing the potential for racial tensions at the time.

In addition to observing the anniversary of the speech, there will also be tributes to three people who passed away in recent months: former State Rep. William A. Crawford; Amos Brown, radio personality at WTLC and community activist; and Mark St. John, who made his mark as a persistent advocate on social service issues.

Organizers also said there will be musical performances and discussions of some of the most immediate issues of the day, including hate crimes, workers’ rights, endemic poverty, and violent crime.

In the event of inclement weather, the event will take place at Indianapolis Public School #27, located at 545 E. 19th St.

Cosponsors for the event are Kroger, Indy Parks Department, Diane Simon, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Endowment, Inc., Indianapolis Foundation, Citizens Neighborhood Coalition, King Park Community Development, and the NCAA.