On January 18, nearly 500 attorneys, judges, students and community leaders gathered at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Luncheon to reaffirm our profession’s commitment to Dr. King’s vision. Sharing personal stories and song, the capacity crowd came together as a community to renew a collective vow to stand up for equality and justice.
The annual luncheon is sponsored by KCBA, area law firms and businesses, minority bar associations, and the University of Washington and Seattle University schools of law.
Featured speaker Kathleen Neal Cleaver — senior lecturer at both Yale University and Emory Law School and former communications secretary of the Black Panther Party — delivered an inspiring and challenging keynote address. Cleaver began her talk with a warning that King’s legacy is in danger of being appropriated. Cleaver challenged attendees to ensure King’s legacy accurately reflects his policies and ideals. Through video clips of King’s speeches, Cleaver reminded the audience of King’s strong opposition to war and support for direct resistance, often omitted from portrayals of his legacy.
Cleaver charted her own path through the Civil Rights era when she joined the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, through which she met King at his home. She later went on to work with her then-husband Eldridge Cleaver and the Black Panther Party and shared in the struggle for equality and justice. All in attendance received Cleaver’s message clearly: It is our responsibility to protect King’s true legacy by challenging those who would cynically distort it.
In addition to Cleaver’s address, performances by The Sound of the Northwest choir and students from the Seattle Public School African American Academy united attendees in remembering King’s words and actions. The luncheon was emceed by Bonnie J. Glenn, co-chair of the MLK, Jr. Luncheon Committee. KCBA President Eileen Concannon welcomed attendees with a powerful recollection of her childhood in the segregated South. Karen Murray provided an excellent introduction of Cleaver and KCBA First Vice President Dan Gandara’s request on behalf of the King County Bar Foundation raised more than $4,000 for Minority Law Student Scholarships and other diversity programs.
The King County Bar Association extends its heartfelt thanks to all the sponsors and volunteers, especially the members of the organizing committee, for their extraordinary effort in putting together this successful event. A special thank you also goes to Committee Co-Chair Judge Richard A. Jones for all his help and support.
As we return to our daily routines, let us strive to remember the sense of purpose that filled the room at this year’s luncheon and to work together to honor through action the memory of Martin Luther King.
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Bonnie Glenn is deputy chief of staff of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and co-chair of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Luncheon Committee.
