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The birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. marked by various local celebrations

www.cityofrochester.gov

There are a number of activities around the Rochester area to mark the birthday of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (his actual birthday was Jan. 15, but his birthday is marked on a Monday).

It is a federal holiday, meaning most federal government offices are closed. Most state and many local government offices are closed as well, and many banks are closed. The stock markets in the U.S. are also closed.

The Greater Martin Luther King Jr. Commission in Rochester holds its annual celebration of King with speeches and song at the Eastman Theatre from 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. The community-wide celebration is entitled the “presence of justice.”

At 11:30 a.m., the 36th annual Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be held at the University of Rochester in Whipple Auditorium.

There will be song, dance and poetry. The keynote speaker is Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, and the event, sponsored by local 1199 of the SEIU and the Strong Memorial Hospital administration is open to the public.

The legacy of Dr. King,will be celebrated in Rochester at Skate to Commemorate, an open skating event at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park Ice Rink, 353 Court St.

The rink will be open for ice skating from noon to 1:30 p.m., 1:50 to 3:10 p.m. and 3:40 to 5:10 p.m. 

Also on Monday, Garth Fagan Dance holds a day of free classes at their studio at 50 Chestnut Street starting at 11:00 a.m.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.