Be There with Bells On

Members of the N.C. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission will initiate a statewide bell-ringing tribute at 11:55 a.m. Friday, with the first bell tolling at the N.C. Museum of History in downtown Raleigh.
“Ringing of a replica Liberty Bell proclaims the fundamental importance of freedom in our own lives, in our state, our nation and our world,” N.C. MLK Commission chairman Dr. Dumas A. Harshaw Jr. said. “We will use this occasion to ring out to call attention to the insensitivity, injustice and inequality that curtail freedom and happiness throughout society.”

The commission encourages all citizens, churches and organizations to participate in MLK Holiday observances by ringing bells at noon Friday in their own communities. The goal is to create a simultaneous bell-ringing tribute throughout the state in memory of the civil rights leader and to affirm that North Carolinians continue to cherish the value of freedom, democracy, diversity and equal opportunity.

“Though our actions are symbolic, they have tremendous potential,” commission executive director John Campbell said. “Energized by the legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the bell-ringing is a statement of personal conviction and community involvement. It provides a moment for both reflection and resolve.”

The N.C. MLK Commission, which promotes among the people of North Carolina an awareness and appreciation of the life and work of King, was established by the General Assembly in 1993 and is part of the N.C. Human Relations Commission of the N.C. Department of Administration. For more information, contact the N.C. Human Relations Commission at (919) 807-4420 or visit http://www.doa.nc.gov/hrc.