Join the Single Act of Solidarity to Commemorate the March on Washington, 8/28

(from the Office of Atlanta City Council President, Ceasar Mitchell)

In support of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change; Bernice A. King, the Center’s Chief Executive Officer and daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King,  and the national efforts to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the historic March On Washington and Dr. King’s, “I Have A Dream Speech”, Atlanta City Council President Ceasar C. Mitchell is encouraging people across the nation to join in solidarity on August 28th at exactly 3:00 pm EST to let freedom ring.

“At this exact moment, I am encouraging everyone in Atlanta and across the country -- whether in groups or individually -- to pause, reflect and commemorate this most historic event in our nation’s history,” President Mitchell said.  “If you don’t have a bell to ring, then set your smartphone alarm to go off at this precise time. Our collective act of solidarity is the least we can do in honor of what Dr. King and the March On Washington accomplished in making the United States and the world a better place.”

President Mitchell has also invited all City Hall employees and members of the public to join him and his fellow Council Members in the City Hall Atrium on August 28th to participate in an official MLK bell-ringing ceremony at 3:00 p.m. 

President Mitchell learned of the “Let Freedom Ring” bell-ringing events when talking to Bernice A. King at a recent Atlanta City Council meeting where a proclamation commemorating the March On Washington was presented.  President Mitchell immediately threw his support behind the efforts. 

"My father concluded his great speech with a call to 'let freedom ring,' and that is a challenge we will meet with a magnificent display of brotherhood and sisterhood in symbolic bell-ringing at places of worship, schools and other venues where bells are available from coast to coast and continent to continent," said CEO Bernice A. King.

If you do not have a bell, or do not have a bell ringtone option on your smartphone, you may download the “Let Freedom Ring Bell Ringing Ceremony App” here, http://www.mlkdream50.com.

The Council President reached out to elected officials, community leaders and organizations to join him in engaging their constituents and networks to participate in the Let Freedom Ring bell ringing event. State Representative Rahn Mayo, East Point Councilmember Marcel Reed, Columbia, S.C. Mayor Steve Benjamin, Operation HOPE CEO Jay Bailey, Grady Health Systems, Dosomething.org CEO Nancy Lubin and Nancy Flake Johnson, President and CEO of Urban League of Greater Atlanta are among the many who will participate.

The Council President is asking Atlantans who join his efforts to use the hashtag #MLKbellsATL in support of this commemorative initiative. 

“I would love to see the hashtag trending across the nation,” President Mitchell said. “Dr. King is an Atlanta native son and this city should show that we still hold him, and the entire King family, near and dear to our hearts.”

To learn more about the “Let Freedom Ring” bell-ringing activities, please click here or go to officialmlkdream50.com.