MLK III bridges the gap between Benton Harbor and St. Joseph communities to honor his father's legacy

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- Two monuments will be unveiled in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and will mark a powerful movement for two communities, and after 15 years of dreaming of this moment, Martin Luther King III hopes that progress will continue as MLK Jr. envisioned.

The roads between Benton Harbor and St. Joseph High School bands are coming together in a unique way, uniting them through music and service.

For the first time, both schools will play together at the unveiling of Martin Luther King Jr. monuments that will be dedicated to both communities.

At 11 a.m., both bands will march from St Joseph monument to Benton Harbor and invite the community to come honor MLK’s legacy

Nathaniel Cook, Benton Harbor’s band director, mentions that unity and strength in numbers is similar to Martin Luther King Jr.’s teachings, and they hope to continue the connection.

“I think it’s a great chance for them to take away some new friendships because they haven’t really gotten the chance to sit down and talk with a lot of these kids. It will be chance for them to come together, play the same music, and have the same experience and walk away as brothers with some experience and not just classmates on the other side of the river.” said Cook

Martin Luther King III hasn’t visited Benton Harbor in over 20 years, but the unveiling of the monuments for both communities continue to break barriers reminding us that true progress requires a sustained effort.

“As a nation we should be closer together but unfortunately the political climate has created a further divide and disconnect and the only way that changes is the people have to come together, and I think that’s what this ceremony represents." said King III. “The hope is that it teaches communities that when we work together there’s nothing that we can’t achieve.”

Here are some the details if you planned on attending the MLK Jr. monument unveiling:

• 11 a.m. Margaret B. Upton Arboretum
  • Unity March with MLK III, local clergy, and BH/SJ bands from St. Joseph to Benton Harbor
• 11:30 a.m. Dwight P. Mitchell City Center Park
  • Unveiling at Benton Harbor site
• Noon Lake Michigan College
  • Directly following the unveilings, join us on the grounds of the LMC Mendel Center for lunch - food trucks available
• 1:30 p.m. Lake Michigan College
  • “A Conversation with Martin Luther King III,” at the LMC Mendel Center. You can register for the event free here on their website.