Martin Luther King Jr Day – 40th Anniversary Event, Southfield, Michigan.

January 20th 2025

Hundreds gathered at the Hope United Methodist Church just past 9am in Southfield MI to prepare for the annual Peace March in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. The diverse community of Southfield showed up in below freezing temperature to march in solidarity in the spirit of peace, justice and freedom.  The flags of every nation were held by the participants in the Peace March  from the Church to the Southfield Civic Center Pavilion where hundreds more waited to attend the annual MLK Event.

The annual Martin Luther King Jr Day Event was started 40 years ago by the Martin Luther King  Jr Task Force was founded by peace builder and community leader, Barbara Talley, often called the Mother of Southfield.  Her daughter, Dr. Patricia Anne Talley is a long time resident of Zihuatanejo, Mexico and represents May Peace Prevail On Earth International as one of our Peace Representatives.  Both Barbara and Patricia welcomed us to Southfield to participate in this historic 40th anniversary program.  

Once the Peace March reached the Civic Center, the program started with the A&T School Marching Band and the Presentation of Colors, with close to 1,000 people in attendance.   The brilliant program highlighted community leaders, including City of Southfield Mayor Siver and Police Chief Barren, who opened the program with their words of dedication to Dr. King, followed by words of welcome by President Fair Glenn of the MLK Jr Task Force.  Legendary music producers Paul Riser Sr. and McKinley Jackson spoke on the power of music to bridge cultures in Southfield, known for the birth of Motown music.  As a special treat,  Martha Reeves of the Vandellas had the whole Civic Center on their feet to dance to her legendary song, Dancing in the Streets.

The keynote was offered by Fumi Johns of May Peace Prevail On Earth International who presented the World Peace Flag Ceremony with the voices of hundred sending the universal message, May Peace Prevail On Earth out to the continents of the world including all the indigenous nations.  

On the day when the presidential inauguration was being held in Washington DC., the citizens of Southfield, MI, united their hearts as one to send a strong message of peace, unity, and oneness across the United States of America and out to the world.

May Peace Prevail On Earth