ALTON — The Alton Branch NAACP will host a community event to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, at the Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 2621 Amelia St. in Alton.
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The event, themed “The Fierce Urgency of Now,” invites community members, faith leaders, organizations, and 2026 election candidates to reflect on Dr. King’s message of courage, compassion, and collective responsibility.
Illinois State Sen. Christopher Belt will deliver the keynote address, focusing on Dr. King’s justice work and its ongoing relevance. Belt represents Illinois’ 57th District and has a background in law enforcement and public service, including 18 years as a law enforcement officer and leadership roles in juvenile parole administration.
He holds degrees in history, public administration, and professional counseling, and currently serves as chair of the Appropriation Committee for Public Safety and Infrastructure.
The program will feature an invocation by Elder Mildred Woods-Walker of Bread of Life Fellowship Church, scripture readings by Missionary Faye Taylor of Deliverance Temple Complex COGIC, and musical performances by the Riverbend Choir.
Other highlights include a wreath presentation by the Alton Branch NAACP executive committee, a proclamation by Alton Mayor David Goins, and a recitation of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech by Andre Cooley.
Alton Branch NAACP President Leon Smallwood-Bey and Youth Council President Tori Porter will offer greetings.
The event will also recognize the late Jesse Prather, a former singer with the Riverbend Choir, and present the Dr. King Award to Bishop and Pastor Brown of Bethesda Temple Church and Reverend Kenneth Campbell of Greater Glory Tabernacle Church.
In a statement, the Alton Branch NAACP said the event is “a time for everyone, regardless of background or position, to come together and honor Dr. King’s message of courage, compassion, and collective responsibility.”
The organization added, “Let us gather in fellowship, reflection, and purpose as we uplift Dr. King’s vision and commit ourselves to carrying it forward in our community and beyond.”
