Clinton prepares for MLK march

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| Monday, January 10, 2005 12:28 AM CST | () comments

Kay Luna

CLINTON, Iowa � For the 17th year, organizers are getting ready for the community-wide Martin Luther King Jr. celebration and march through downtown Clinton.

The march, held in honor of the late civil rights leader, will start at 2:15 p.m. Sunday at Bethel AME Church, weather permitting. A program will follow at 3 p.m. at Clinton Masonic Center.

That's where the MLK Jr. Peace and Justice Award will be awarded to Clinton Mayor LaMetta Wynn, in recognition of her work promoting King's ideals of peace and justice, organizer Lesley McCreery said.

An Iowa City professional theater company, Graffiti Theatre, will perform, using an interactive style that engages participants in "trying out real solutions to real-life challenges," she said.

Refreshments will be served after the program.

Participants are encouraged to visit the Peace Stations in the lower level of the Masonic Center, where several organizations offer hands-on activities that teach peace. Those include the Felix Adler Children's Discovery Center, the YWCA Children's Center, Clinton's citywide Parent Teacher Association, River Arts Center, Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton Peace Coalition, Bickelhaupt Arboretum, Habitat for Humanity, Prevent Child Abuse Council and the Islamic Society of Clinton County.

The event is made possible by its corporate sponsor, Equistar of Clinton, along with a grant from the Iowa Arts Council and funding and support from many individuals and organizations.

The committee planning the event includes representatives from the YWCA of Clinton, The Franciscan University of the Prairie, Clinton Community College and the Clinton Chapter of the NAACP.

For more information, call McCreery at the YWCA at (563) 242-2110.

Kay Luna can be contacted at

(563) 243-5039 or kluna@qctimes.com.