"It is no longer a choice between violence and nonviolence... It's nonviolence or nonexistence." - Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968). American clergyman, Human Rights Activist, the leader of the African-American Civil Rights Movement and Nobel Peace Prize Winner
Martin Luther King Jr Commemorative Exhibition is currently being held at the National Art Gallery in Colombo. Martin Luther King III is the eldest son and the oldest living child of American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and American Human Rights Advocate and Community Activist Martin Luther King III was the Chief Guest at the Commemorative Exhibition. He was welcomed by the U.S Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Ms.Patricia Butenis.
He looked very emotional and moved while viewing the exhibition in Colombo. His eyes were filled with tears, and he tried hard to control them from rolling down on his cheek while Soul Sounds Choir beautifully presented “Freedom Medley”.
The Commemorative Exhibition includes Photos, Films, Audio Clips, Panel Discussions and Workshops.
The Exhibition and Events will continue in Colombo till February 9th 2010,in Ampara from February 17th to February 19th 2010, in Batticaloa from February 22nd to February 24th 2010 and in Jaffna from March 7th to 9th 2010. It's sponsored by the American Center in Colombo and the Foundation for Co-Existence.
The Chief Guest Martin Luther King III is being welcomed by the U.S Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Particia Butenis
The Commemorative Exhibition includes Photos, Films, Audio Clips, Panel Discussions and Workshops.
The Exhibition and Events will continue in Colombo till February 9th 2010,in Ampara from February 17th to February 19th 2010, in Batticaloa from February 22nd to February 24th 2010 and in Jaffna from March 7th to 9th 2010.
Rosa Park was known as "Mother of the Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement"
Martin Luther King III and U.S Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Ms.Patricia Butenis view the exhibition
Martin Luther King III conversing with U.S Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Ms.Patricia Butenis during the tour of the exhibits
Br.Darshan Chaitanya,Resident Acharya of Chinmaya Mission Sri Lanka views the exhibition
The Commemorative Exhibition draws large number of people
Venerable Professor Bellanwila Wimalaratana-Chief Incumbent of Bellanwila Temple,Br.Darshan Chaitanya-Resident Acharya of Chinmaya Mission Sri Lanka, Fr.Mervyn Fernando-Founder Director of Subodhi Institute for Integral Education and Hafiz Abdul Rahuman gave the religious blessings
"Freedom Medley" by Soul Sounds hoir
"Freedom Medley" by Soul Sounds choir
Moving presentation by Soul Sounds Choir
Appreciating the Soul Sounds Choir
Martin Luther King Jr was not only influenced by the philosophies of different religious traditions, but also by friendships with people from different religious backgrounds
Former Prime Minister of India Late Indira Gandhi with Coretta Scott King in Washington D.C on November 5th 1971 three years after Martin Luther King Jr’s death
Audience at the event
Audience captivated at the event
Martin Luther King III's mother had reservations about naming him after his famous father, "realizing the burdens it can create for the child," but King, Jr. always wanted to name his son Martin Luther III
Martin Luther King Jr in his letter nominating a Vietnamese Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh for the Noble Peace Prize, King wrote “He is a holy man, His ideas for peace, if applied would build a monument to ecumenism to world brotherhood to humanity”.
Martin Luther King III is seen adding remarks
U.S Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Ms.Patricia Butenis welcomes the gathering
Martin Luther King III addresses the gathering at National Art Gallery
U.S Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Ms.Patricia Butenis is in conversation with Fr.Mervyn Fernando- Founder Director of Subodhi Institute for Integral Education
"Nonviolence is not a miracle that works overnight" Martin Luther King Jr replied to a question whether it has won the hearts of the White Americans
Venerable Professor Bellanwila Wimalaratana-Chief Incumbent of Bellanwila Temple and Deshabandu Mrs.Jezima Ismail-Co-Founder of Muslim Women Research and Action Forum are seen here viewing the exhibition
March on Washington-August 28th 1963
Martin Luther King Jr spent a month in India with Gandhian followers and studying the Gandhian Philosophy of nonviolnece
The March Continues.....
U.S Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Ms.Patricia Butenis is in conversation with Venerable Professor Bellanwila Wimalaratana-Chief Incumbent of Bellanwila Temple
"I have A DREAM Today" Martin Luther King Jr's speech on August 28th 1963 caught the attention of million people around the world
"He was the man of nonviolence, falling at the hands of a man of violence. He was a man of love falling at the hands of a man with hate. This seems the way of history.....For the same reason that Abraham Lincoln was shot, mark you for the same reason Gandhi was shot that is the attempt to heal the wounds of a divided nation – when Abraham Lincoln was shot, Secretary Stanton stood by and said, ‘Now he belongs to the ages.’ The same things is true of Mahatma Gandhi now: He belongs to the ages.”
Martin Luther King III pose for photograph with the Soul Sounds Choir
Martin Luther King III signs autograph at the National Art Gallery in Colombo
