Now is the perfect time to see the powerful exhibit "Carrying On The Dream," honoring the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Black History Month. American history is important and fittingly enough this exhibit is traveling across Louisiana now, through February, educating the masses about the civil rights leader who fought for equal rights, social justice, and the right to vote for all. People of all ages need to understand who Dr. King is and why he was assassinated on April 4 in 1968 at the age of 39. See the exhibit schedule below and look for it to be on display here in Lake Charles Feb. 7-10!

Sadly right now, the right to vote is once again under attack. Republicans in the United States Senate, with the help of two Democrats, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, are blocking two voting rights bills from being passed into law: The Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. More than 5 decades ago the late U.S. Representative John Lewis risked his life alongside Dr. King and fought for the right of all Americans to vote and spent his entire career standing for equal justice. They believed in America's democracy and because our nation's freedoms are being threatened, Dr. King's family asked that there be no celebrations on MLK Day. Rather, the King family encouraged all Americans to join them in telling the U.S. Senate to pass both voting rights bills.

Speaking of his father's sacrifice on Monday, Martin Luther King III, compared the inaction of Sinema and Manchin to the moderates that stood in the way of passing civil rights legislation during the 50s and 60s. He said, “History will not remember them kindly.” It is this continued struggle for equality in the United States that makes the "Carrying On The Dream" exhibit even more important for everyone to see.

On display is the 1966 Cadillac 616 Superior Coach hearse that actually transported Dr. King's body after his assassination. The Hearse carried King from the hospital to the funeral home, to the airport in Memphis where Coretta Scott King waited to receive her husband's body.

Todd Graves, Raising Cane’s founder, and CEO is responsible for the procurement of the vehicle 2018. Prior to the restoration it had been kept in storage for decades but believed its place in history needed to be shared. Addressing the violent January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capital Graves said,

 “It’s important that the next generation really understands how the contributions of Martin Luther King Jr. changed the world,” Graves is quoted in a news release about the tour. “Many of us did not get a chance to hear MLK during his lifetime, so I am hoping they will be able to appreciate him and his work through this tribute to honor his life.”

The "Carrying On The Dream" exhibit is being presented by Raising Canes and the Reginald F. Lewis Scholars Program and features other regional civil rights artifacts, a documentary screening of “I am MLK Jr”, the Cadilac hearse, and much more. Go see it now through the end of February at the following locations:

Jan. 17-19, in LaTech’s Student Center
211 Wisteria Street, Ruston
8 a,m. - 8 p.m.

Jan. 20 - Feb. 5  at  Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum
800 Front St. in Natchitoches
10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday

Feb. 7-10 - Lake Charles Civic Center
900 Lakeshore Drive in Lake Charles
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Feb. 14-19
Blackham Coliseum
2330 Johnston St. in Lafayette
Hours TBD

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