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Minnesota Governor's Council Hosts MLK Celebration At Ordway Center

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – People across the country are celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and what he did for the Civil Rights Movement Monday.

Programs and days of service are being held nationwide and here in Minnesota.

Beginning at 11 a.m. the State of Minnesota Governor's Council held a MLK Day Celebration at the Ordway Center in St. Paul. Pete Rhodes was the emcee while Talia A. Lewis, the founder of Helping Educate to Advance the Rights of the Deaf, was the keynote speaker.

It is cold outside, but no matter the season Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. never stopped his fight for equal rights.

To pay tribute to his legacy, local youth hit the stage for spoken word, song and dance performances.

The youth rally at the Ordway's Concert Hall touched on Dr. King's vision of freedom, equality, community service, empowerment and education.

This year's theme is "The Power of Telling Your Story: 30 Years Of Us." This federal holiday started 30 years ago to honor the slain civil rights leader.

After the youth rally, students and community members took the Dr. King celebration down 4th Street for a march reenactment. They held a sign that read "Standing together to honor the man and realize the dream."

At the youth program, performers encouraged students to stand strong and fight for their dreams, just as Dr. King did during the Civil Rights Movement.

Today, Dr. King would have been 87-years-old.

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