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Columbus marks MLK Day with speeches, performances and calls for collective action
Summary
Speakers at the City of Columbus MLK Day celebration urged collective action on housing, violence and inclusion, honored three local leaders and featured performances by Central State University Chorus and local dancers.
Columbus officials and community leaders gathered at the Lincoln Theater for the City of Columbus 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, featuring music, readings of Dr. King’s speeches, and calls for civic engagement.
Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, who addressed the audience near the event’s opening, tied Dr. King’s legacy to present‑day municipal challenges, urging unity and action on long‑standing problems such as affordable housing and violent crime. "Let us choose courage over fear, unity over division, hope over cynicism," Ginther said, framing the evening around collective responsibility.
The program included remarks from Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, who thanked attendees and emphasized civic participation and accountability. Beatty closed her remarks with a brief personal aside: "Just in case you don't know, I'm Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, and I approve this message."
Kim Douglas, director of the Department of Neighborhoods, recentered…
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