Birmingham To Celebrate MLK Jr. Day As Other Cities Mobilize

BIRMINGHAM, MI — On Monday, events in Birmingham will honor the life and legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. In some U.S. cities, however, people plan to forgo the celebration of the federal holiday to take a stand in support of voting rights.

Last month, the family of the late civil rights activist called on President Joe Biden and members of the U.S. Senate to either restore and expand voting rights in honor of King's legacy or skip the celebration of his namesake holiday.

Fueling the King family’s call are at least 400 voter suppression bills introduced during the first five months of 2021, 33 of which were put into law across 19 states, according to a report by Insider citing data from the Voting Rights Lab.

Several bills were introduced in Michigan, including proposed laws that would make it harder to vote without an ID and ban election officials from sending unsolicited absentee ballot applications.

In response, the Kings are demanding meaningful action on the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. They also asked Biden to "ensure the Jim Crow filibuster doesn't stand in the way."

RELATED: No MLK Jr. Day Without Action On Voting Rights, King Family Says

The Freedom to Vote Act would create a national standard for voting access, overruling many restrictions passed or proposed in states. Meanwhile, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore and strengthen parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 after certain portions of the bill were struck down by two U.S. Supreme Court decisions.

While passed by thin margins in the U.S. House of Representatives, both bills remain stuck in the Senate, blocked primarily by Republican opposition.

To encourage the Senate to pass both bills, demonstrations are planned Saturday in Phoenix, Arizona, and Monday in Washington, D.C. More than 100 grassroots organizations have joined the Kings’ call to action.

"Voting is an essential part of our democracy's infrastructure," Arndrea Waters King said in a statement. Waters King is the wife of Martin Luther King III, the son of the slain civil rights icon.

“We cannot afford for it to crumble any further," she added.

Just days ahead of MLK Jr. Day, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris visited Atlanta Tuesday to talk about the voting rights bills — bills Biden called a "turning point."

In an excerpt of his speech released by the White House, Biden said, "The next few days, when these bills come to a vote, will mark a turning point in this nation. Will we choose democracy over autocracy, light over shadow, justice over injustice? I know where I stand. I will not yield. I will not flinch. I will defend your right to vote and our democracy against all enemies foreign and domestic. And so the question is where will the institution of (the) United States Senate stand?"

RELATED: Biden To Senate On Voting Rights Bills: 'Pass It Now'

It’s unclear whether the Senate will vote on either bill ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Here’s a look at a few other events in metro Detroit intended to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.:

Monday:

Drive for Freedom, Justice and Equity: There will be a 10:00 a.m. drive leaving from Hope United Methodist Church, 26275 Northwestern Highway, Southfield. Capacity is limited to first 250 cars and registration is required. A virtual program is at 1:00 p.m.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration: A variety of activities are planned by Farmington Public Schools, Farmington Public Library, Community Equity Organization and others. There will also be a march at 11:00 a.m. starting at the library down 12 Mile. Virtual discussions will also be held about diversity, equity and inclusion.

A Day On, Not a Day Off: The free joint virtual and in-person event by Berkley, Royal Oak and their school districts will begin at 9:30 a.m. to remember and honor Dr. King. Detroit Youth Choir will perform during virtual event and a Freedom Walk begins at 10:30 a.m. at Royal Oak Middle School, in which guests are invited.

MLK Day 2022: Give Us the Ballot: A free day of programming from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Detroit Historical Museum in partnership with Black Historic Sites Committee. The event also features a performance from the Renaissance High School choir, a spoken word performance by Aleca Gleser and a mock election for kids and cupcakes between 1:30-2 p.m.

Oakland University's 30th Annual Keeper of the Dream Scholarship Awards Celebration: The event will be from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Oakland University's O'Rena with Emmy nominated actor Anthony Anderson of "black-ish" as this year's keynote speaker.