This year marked the 60th year anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s visit to Lynchburg, Virginia.   Sixty (60) years ago on Tuesday, March 27, 1962, Dr. King visited Lynchburg, Virginia.  While here he held a press conference and spoke about voting rights and the importance of registering to vote.  Dr. King knocked on doors in the black community to encourage voter registration.  He visited Diamond Hill Baptist Church and The Anne Spencer House and Garden. Dr. King ate a meal at Cosby Woods’ Lodge of the Fisherman, and ended his visit delivering a powerful speech at E. C. Glass High School at 8:00 p.m.

On January 17, 2022, MLKLCC held an event that celebrated the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday.  The keynote speech for that event was The Rev. Dr. Virgil A. Wood.  Dr. Wood, who is now 96 years old, was instrumental in organizing Dr. King’s visit to Lynchburg.  Rev. Dr. Wood is a “church leader, educator, and civil rights activist who has committed much of his life’s work to the struggle for economic and spiritual development among the nation’s disadvantaged.”  From 1958 to 1963, Rev. Dr. Wood was the pastor of the historic African American Diamond Hill Baptist Church located here in Lynchburg, Virginia.

MLKLCC presented a virtual event to commemorate Dr. King’s 1962 visit to Lynchburg, Virginia.   The event was livestreamed on Facebook from Cosby Woods’ Lodge of the Fisherman.  

The event highlighted a panel discussion with local civil rights activists who responded to Rev. Dr. Wood’s message.  The panel was moderated by Mrs. Gloria Preston. The panelists were Mr. Nick George, Rev. Dr. Martha Kearse, Dr. Robert L. Canida, II , and Ms. Margina Sheffey.  

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Lynchburg Community Council is a 501(c)(3), non-profit  organization established by Lynchburg City Council in 1991 to promote and conduct  community observances in recognition of the national holiday honoring Dr. Martin  Luther King, Jr. and to maintain the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Human Rights  at the Lynchburg Public Library. The MLK Council collaborates with civic, educational,  and religious organizations and the City of Lynchburg to support activities that reflect Dr. King’s teachings of non-violent social change. For more information, click here.

Your tax-deductible donation can be sent electronically to Givelify at Dr. Martin Luther  King Center For Human Rights. You can also mail your contributions to Lynchburg Public  Library, MLKLCC, 2315 Memorial Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24501. Please denote,  “MLKLCC Donation.” Please also share your information such as your address, telephone  number, and email. Please email us at lyhmlk1991@gmail.com if there are any questions. 

To Support MLKLCC You May :  

• Donate electronically using Givelify at Dr. Martin Luther King Center for Human  Rights 

• Or you may mail your contribution to 2022 MLKLCC, Lynchburg Public Library,  2315 Memorial Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24501 *** Note: Please share your name,  address, telephone number, and email address.  

To Contact Us: 

Please email us at lyhmlk1991@gmail.com if there are any questions.

Past Events: 

January 2021 MLK Celebration 

January 2022 MLK Celebration 

March 2022 60th Year Anniversary