The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute and Ceremony

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A statue against a blue sky.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C.

“One Day” is the theme for the official state of Wisconsin ceremony (noon, Jan. 15, Capitol Rotunda) honoring the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., featuring guest speaker the Rev. Dr. Marcus Allen, the Chicago Mass Choir, and Latino Arts Mariachi Juvenil. The “Tribute and Ceremony,” produced and directed by Dr. Jonathan Øverby, will also be broadcast live on Wisconsin Public Radio and at 8 p.m. on PBS Wisconsin. The King Coalition of Madison & Dane County Observance begins with a freedom song sing-in at 5 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Overture Center. The program begins at 6 p.m., featuring guest speaker Terrence Roberts, one of the “Little Rock Nine” who helped integrate Little Rock Central High School in 1957. The evening also includes the presentation of the Madison-Dane County MLK Humanitarian Awards and music by the MLK Community Choir; WORT-FM will broadcast live and it will also air later on Madison CityChannel. For information on related events (starting with the return of the community dinner on Jan. 12), visit mlkingcoalition.org.

media release: Wisconsin celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., live from the Capitol Rotunda in Madison on January 15, 2024, at noon. The 43rd Annual "Tribute and Ceremony" is the official state ceremony - the oldest official MLK state celebration in the U.S.

The event-themed "One Day" will honor King's birthday, reflect on his legacy of service, his 'dream' of equal rights for Black Americans, and his belief in the power of equality leading to 'one day' when all will get to the "promised land." The memories of those who paid the ultimate price in pursuing Justice, Freedom, and Equality during the Civil Rights Movement will also be honored.

The program will feature the Chicago Mass Choir, Latino Arts Mariachi Juvenil. with guest speaker the Rev. Dr. Marcus Allen. The event produced and directed by Dr. Jonathan Øverby is free and open to all.

The full program will air and stream live as it happens at noon Monday, Jan. 15, on The Wisconsin Channel, or PBS Wisconsin-2, and at pbswisconsin.org. A one-hour program featuring special moments from the State of Wisconsin’s official tribute and ceremony will be broadcast the same night at 8 p.m. on PBS Wisconsin. 

Audio from the full program will also be broadcast live at noon on Wisconsin Public Radio.