WATCH: Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens joins King Center for spirited, contemplative MLK service

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At the MLK event at Ebenezer Baptist Church on Jan. 20, 2025, members of Atlanta's consular corps took turns ringing a ceremonial bell in support of continuing Nobel Peace Prize winner's work.

Credit: GPB

The 40th annual holiday celebration to honor the birthday of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. filled the pews at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church Monday, despite a temperature of 18 degrees outside and downtown's barricaded streets — a safety measure ahead of the evening's national college football championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The uplifting gathering featured fiery oration, a mass choir singing Handel's "Hallelujah" chorus, a Korean dance troupe and students reciting dramatic passages from MLK's repertoire. Plus, there were speeches and performances from civic leaders and gospel musicians across the political spectrum, including Jennifer Biard, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Mark Gutierrez, Tye Tribbett and Natalie Grant, as well as a keynote address from the Rev. William Barber, a civil rights advocate and minister who heads the Poor People's Campaign.

Twenty-six countries were represented at the event — from Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and the U.K. to Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Japan; members of Atlanta's consular corps took turns ringing a ceremonial bell in support of continuing Nobel Peace Prize winner MLK's work.

The King Center's CEO, the Rev. Dr. Bernice King (youngest child of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King), spoke about the significance of and contrasts between the MLK Jr. holiday and the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who was sworn in at the U.S. Capitol around noon just as the service at Ebenezer ended.

But first came the acknowledgement of the life of Cornelius Taylor, an Atlanta man who was killed last week.

King told the audience of about 1,500 people, "I want to take a moment of silence for Cornelius Taylor, who was tragically killed right across the street by a bulldozer driven by an Atlanta Department of Works employee while he was clearing an encampment of our unsheltered brothers and sisters. Can we take that moment now?" After a heavy silence, she said, "Amen."

When Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens took the podium, he also addressed the tragedy.

"I must admit that in the midst of today's celebrations, I stand before you, saddened by recent events in our city and the state of affairs across our country: Fires, floods, violence, prejudice, poverty and division across the land.," he said. "Last week was one of the toughest weeks I've had on this job. What began as a week of managing snow, then tons of meetings, press conferences, ribbon cuttings, etc., it ended in tragedy, with Mr. Cornelius Taylor dying in an awful accident while public works workers were attempting to clean and close what was one of the largest homeless encampments in the city of Atlanta.

"This terrible incident is heartbreaking and serves as a constant reminder, a humbling and sobering, solemn reminder that Dr. King's beloved community is still under construction." 

Dickens went on to reference the Bible, saying that good works should be seen through actions not just words, and touted his own efforts to provide affordable housing and bridge income disparities.

"We cannot do this work alone," he said as he pleaded with "partners in government to our friends in the nonprofit sector, from the business community to our service providers, all will have a role to play. We have a lot of work to do, a long road ahead," he said, promising that Atlanta will be "a city of compassion."

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Rev. Dr. Bernice King speaks at the Beloved Community Commemorative Service at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on Jan. 20, 2025.

Credit: Courtesy of the King Center

Bernice King drew a contrast between her father and the incoming POTUS with a passionate call to worship, underscoring the important work needed to unite a divided America.

"Today marks 40 years since the inception of the national holiday," King said, recognizing the Center's work to further the practice of nonviolence. "And this is only the third time it has coincided with the presidential inauguration. However, this time it has become a major factor for so many people because of the notable contrast and the two men who are sharing the same space in today's news cycle and on today's Gregorian calendar. For some, today's inauguration represents the best of times. 'Make America Great Again.' And for others, it highlights the worst of times. 'Set America back again.' ... But regardless of how this day shows up for you, we must remember the mission and be in pursuit of it."

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp was in Washington, D.C., Monday for inauguration activities, where he posted on X, "It's a great day to celebrate a new chapter for America as we prepare to work with this new administration to keep our nation safe, prosperous and free!"

Along with Kemp, Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns spoke about MLK Friday during an event at the Georgia Capitol and the governor also appeared via video with first lady Marty Kemp during the event Monday at Ebenezer, saying, "Today, we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the impact his work continues to have on our state and nation. Let us all remember the causes of justice and peace that Dr. King championed and keep working for a more perfect union."



Here is the complete service: