Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

Mayor Jamie Mayo and the City of Monroe convened the 41st annual birthday salute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr at the Monroe Civic Center, on January 15, 2020, with moderator Rod Washington, City Public Relations /Media Coordinator. The theme was," A Recommitment to Non-Violence". Dr. Carolyn Hunt, Pastor of Walk In The Word Church of Monroe, delivered an informative, power packed, motivational speech that in her own words echoed the sentiments of Dr. King who said, Barrack Obama who said "only a handful of men and women leave an imprint on the conscious of a nation and the history they helped shape". She culminated with an appeal to young people to stop the violence. The Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation observed its 36th Annual MLK Day on Monday January 30, at Power House Church of God in Christ Monroe LA.Pastor Oliver W. Billups Jr. was guest speaker. MLK Jr. Foundation honored William L. McElroy the Humanitarian Award while first Lady Emeritus Rotena H. Russell received the Trailblazer Award. Among the City of Monroe award recipients were the Dr. Martin Luther King Trailblazer Award, Rev. Willie Hunter Sr.; Dr. Martin Luther King Sharp Justice Jr. Award Atty. J. Rodney Pierre; and the W.L. Jack Howard Public Service Award to Judges Marcus Hunter and Jeff Joyce. Wossman High School Choir delivered soul-stirring songs that kept the audience interactive. Among the special guest were, Miss Monroe, Kennedy Woods and Miss' Outstanding Teen Ryia Williams.