Thursday, October 1, 2026
Rockville Centre residents joined many throughout the country on Monday as they came together at the center on North Village Avenue that is named after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to commemorate the slain civil rights leader and his message of nonviolent activism for equality and economic justice.
In words, music and dance they celebrated King on the holiday that marks his birth in January 1929. King’s message of unity and hope resonated in a keynote speech delivered by Pastor Herman Washington from the Shiloh Baptist Church. It was also echoed in performances by a girl scout troop, and in recitations by groups of teens, solo singers and in a presentation by the Silver Foxes from the MLK Center who joined forces with a group of Sassy Seniors from Shiloh Baptist Church.
Also on the program were a dance of praise, a performance by a step team and inductions into a Wall of Fame that pays tribute to those who paved the way for local African-Americans. Deputy Mayor Nancy Howard made eight inductions — and former Mayor Eugene Murray was one of them. His son Francis was not present because he was in Washington, D.C. for a conference of mayors — he attended an MLK commemoration there.
