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News Release

MEDIA CONTACT:
Marylou Berg, Communication Manager, 240-314-8105
    

Rockville Hosts Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Free Program and Reception Scheduled for Monday, Jan. 19
 
Rockville, Md., January 8, 2009 - The Mayor and Council and Rockville Human Rights Commission invite the public to one of the region's largest Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebrations on Monday, Jan. 19, at noon. The free program and reception will be held at Richard Montgomery High School, 250 Richard Montgomery Drive, Rockville. The event commemorates what would have been King's 80th birthday.

The featured guest will be Joe Madison, noted radio personality, social, community, and civil rights activist and humanitarian. Known for asking his radio listeners, "What are you going to do about it?" Madison has been engaged in civil rights issues for more than 30 years and was honored with the "Freedom of Speech award" by Talker magazine last April.
 
"The Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration is always something that everyone should be a part of, but the event planned for this year has a special significance," said Yvonna Love, chairwoman of the Rockville Human Rights Commission. "The fact that the majority of all Americans, regardless of race or religion, selected an African American, Barack Obama, as our president, is truly a manifestation of Dr. King's dream."  
 
The program will include performances by pianists Grace Cho and Alejandro Hernadez-Valdez, Soul in Motion and Body Moves, Motion Mania Dance Center's Ruby Company, soloist Renée Barnes and The Solutions (during the Prelude).
 
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Award and the F. Michael Taff Award will also be presented during the program. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Award is given to a high school student who has promoted the dreams and goals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The F. Michael Taff Award honors an individual, business or organization that has made a contribution to improving the lives of people in Rockville with disabilities.
 
For more information about this year's program, call 240-314-8316 or go to www.rockvillemd.gov/events/MLKday.htm. For directions, weather and program updates, please call 240-314-5022.
 
Richard Montgomery High School is wheelchair accessible. To contact the City's Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator, call 240-314-8139 or TTY 240-314-8137.

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