Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The King Day at the Dome rally, like so many other events, will be held virtually for 2021. King Day at the Dome locally honors and celebrates the life and legacy of MLK.

This is the first time since the beginning of the annual event 20+ years ago that the march + rally will not take place in person. Hosted by the South Carolina NAACP, the event organizers decided that this was the best plan of action due to the current state of the coronavirus pandemic.

MLK day is always recognized on the third Monday of January. In years past, thousands would gather to march to a rally at the South Carolina State House. Check out the State House views from just last year.

Fast forward to adding another virtual event to our calendar. The virtual rally will take place today at 10 a.m.

This year’s featured guests scheduled to give remarks are Rep. James Clyburn, Mayor Steve Benjamin, South Carolina State Epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell, and Rep. Patricia Moore Henegan.

The 2021 theme is “Where Do We Go From Here?” and some of the topics the event will address include civic engagement, criminal justice, economic sustainability, education equity, health care + young adult engagement.

For those who have never participated in a King Day at the Dome celebration, this is your chance since you can log on and listen from wherever you are.

Tune into Zoom today at 10 a.m.

Not ready to end the local virtual celebrations? After MLK weekend, UofSC School of Music will host two free virtual concerts –“The Legacy of Richard Greener in Song” on Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. and “Brighter Beginnings” on Feb. 5 at 6 p.m.

For the kiddos, the South Carolina State Library’s telephone tales storyline will feature children's books about the civil rights leader. To listen, call 803-734-1110.