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On Monday, January 19th, our MLK Day celebration was chosen by TellUsDetroit.com to be featured in recap of events across Detroit. Here's some of their coverage and a link to read the whole story.
DETROIT, MI — Michigan United hosted its 6th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Monday at Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, drawing a passionate crowd for a three-hour event titled, “My Freedom. My Resistance. Our America.” The celebration combined spiritual reflection with a firm call to civic action, honoring local leaders who embody Dr. King’s legacy of courageous resistance.
The event featured powerful testimony from faith leaders and activists who addressed current political challenges, including threats to democracy and the impact of federal policies on marginalized communities. A somber moment of silence was held for Renee Nicole Good, who was tragically killed by an ICE agent earlier this month.
“Dr. King once said that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed,” said Rev. Lawrence Rodgers of Second Baptist Church. “We can never be asleep when it comes to maintaining our freedom.”
Keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Genetta Y. Hatcher, pastor of The Room Church of Belleville, energized the audience by bridging Dr. King’s philosophy with contemporary culture. “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. But it doesn’t bend on its own,” Rev. Dr. Hatcher said. “It bends because we pull that thing.”
The 2026 Award Recipients included:
• Honorary MLK Awards: Posthumously awarded to the Honorable Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick and Rene Lichtman. Additional recipients: Minister Malik Shabazz, Rev. Oscar King III, Pastor Sharon Buttry, Pastor Dale Milford, and Rev. Dr. Louis Forsythe.
• Justice Warrior Award: Lexi Tater (Michigan United Action)
• Winnie Mandela Freedom Fighter Award: Christina Hayes (Mothering Justice)
• Mamie Till Political Healer Award: Kai Page
• John Lewis Political Healer Award: Nicholas Buckingham (Michigan Liberation)
• Bayard Rustin Strategist Award: Katrina Manetta (Macomb Defenders Rising)
• Ryan Bates Founder Award: State Rep. Donovan McKinney
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