ACTIVITIES HERE TO MARK KING HOLIDAY

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A memorial breakfast, a noon tribute and a freedom march are on tap here Monday to honor slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Monday is a federal holiday celebrating King's birthday.

The local activities, sponsored by Southeast Missouri State University, will begin with a memorial breakfast at 7:30 a.m. in the University Center ballroom.

"This will be the fifth annual breakfast," said Debra Mitchell-Braxton, assistant dean of students at Southeast who is coordinating the events honoring King and the civil rights movement.

"In the past, we have had right at close to 200 people attend the breakfast," she said. About the same number of people are expected to attend this year's breakfast.

A number of city and civic officials have been invited to attend the breakfast.

There will be no single featured speaker at this year's breakfast. "This year, we've asked different people on campus and in the community to say a few remarks," said Mitchell-Braxton.

Dr. Kala Stroup, Southeast's president, is scheduled to make a few remarks, along with the Rev. Craig Nessan of St. Mark Lutheran Church and the Rev. Leoma Leigh-Crawford of St. James AME Church.

Mitchell-Braxton said the breakfast speakers will provide both a spiritual and an educational perspective in discussing King and the civil rights movement.

She said the speakers will focus on "how we can continue to challenge people to make sure the country is equitable."

"Education, home and church are the entities that impact on people's lives more than anything else.

"That's where the knowledge comes from, but it's also where the understanding comes from," Mitchell-Braxton said.

Spiritual and contemporary music will be performed at the breakfast.

At noon, a tribute to King will be held in the University Center lobby. The program is open to the public free of charge.

A number of Southeast students including Derek Hudson, president of the Association of Black Collegians; Karla Cooper, president of Delta Sigma Theta, a black sorority; and Marseea Carthan, president of Sigma Gamma Rho, another black sorority are scheduled to speak at the noon ceremony.

At 4 p.m., a symbolic freedom march will be held, beginning on North Spanish in front of the Common Pleas Courthouse.

Marchers will proceed west on Broadway to Henderson and from there to Academic Hall, where a final tribute will be paid to King.

Mitchell-Braxton said about 150 to 200 people participated in the parade last year. She said she expects a similar number will participate this year.

"It's grown over the years," she noted.

"We're trying to get more student involvement and community involvement," she added.

"People will have banners; there will be singing. It will be a pretty upbeat march," said Mitchell-Braxton.

Members of the Black Student Fellowship Choir will participate in the march and will also perform at the final ceremony, scheduled to begin around 4:30 p.m. Monday in Academic Auditorium.

William Duncan, the newly elected president of the local chapter of the NAACP, will speak at the event.

Also scheduled to give remarks are Dr. Tom Lovett, dean of students; Linda Michel, a university counselor; the Rev. Scott Moon, of the Wesley center on campus, and the Rev. George Ashby, of the Second Baptist Church.

In addition, a pictorial display of King's life is on exhibit through the end of the month in the Indian Room at the University Center.

King's eldest daughter, Yolanda King, of Atlanta, is expected to speak on campus March 4.

Although the exact location for the speech has yet to be determined, Mitchell-Braxton said the 7:30 p.m. event may be held in the Show Me Center.