NAACP President addressed the public for MLK Jr. commemoration
DURHAM (WTVD) -- Hundreds packed Duke Chapel Sunday afternoon for Duke University's 2015 Service of Celebration.
Dr. Benjamin Reese, Jr. co-chaired the annual event. He said Dr. King once spoke at Duke University. Reese also said he hoped the memory of Dr. King's message will register now more than ever.
"I think this year it's particularly important given what's happening...around issues of social justice," said Dr. Reese.
The keynote speaker for the event was Dr. Reverend William Barber, the leader of the Moral Monday movement. He is also President of the N.C. NAACP.
At the podium he discussed issues that the nation faces currently, and specifically how those issues relate to North Carolina.
"In North Carolina over 1.6 million people live in poverty and that's just using the living poverty standard, and 600,000 of them are children," said Rev. Barber.
He addressed the crowd on topics such as equal access to healthcare and education. He spoke about the poor. He emphasized the issues he believes everyone should fight for in order to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The celebration of Dr. King's life will continue on Monday when students from Duke University and Durham Tech will help deliver 100,000 meals to food pantries around the Triangle.
