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.

media release: Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when WPR Music broadcasts Wisconsin’s 45th Annual Tribute and Ceremony from the Capitol Rotunda on Jan. 20 at noon, produced, directed and hosted by Dr. Jonathan Øverby, host of WPR’s weekly music program “The Road to Higher Ground.”

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Justice Lives Here,” and will feature a keynote address from Marcelia N. Nicholson, the chair of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors. Music and dance will come from Chicago’s GMAC Mass Choir, violinist Dr. Brianna Ware-Boggs, and the MLK Multi-Cultural Dance Collective, and the event will include presentations of MLK Heritage Awards.

“Justice Lives Here” honors the impact of leaders and ordinary citizens in their own communities, living the spirit of Dr. King’s belief in the power of equality, according to Øverby. “We will celebrate Dr. King’s birthday and reflect on the ongoing work in communities large and small to pursue Dr. King’s dream,” said Øverby. “Dr. King’s legacy of service, his vision of equal rights for Black Americans, and his deep belief that we will get to the promised land of equality continues to power us all.”

The event in the Capitol Rotunda is free and open to the public, and will be carried live at noon on Jan. 20 on WPR Music stations across Wisconsin, and on wpr.org and in the WPR app. PBS Wisconsin will also air an edited highlights program from 9-10 p.m. on its Wisconsin Channel, and an archive will be available at pbswisconsin.org.