Williamsburg County will host a two-day commemorative weekend May 8-9 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic 1966 visit to Kingstree, featuring educational programming, civil rights exhibits and a gala honoring local ties to historically Black colleges and universities.
The observance commemorates King’s May 8, 1966, “March on Ballot Boxes” speech, delivered at the Tomlinson High School athletic field, and will highlight both the national impact of his message and the contributions of local residents to the civil rights movement.
Events begin Friday, May 8, at the Tomlinson High School athletic field and are free to the public. Activities and educational programming will run from 1 to 7 p.m., followed by a commemorative program from 4 to 6 p.m.
Participating organizations include the Williamsburg County Voter Registration Office, the Kingstree Library, Georgetown County Library and the KLC Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Inc.
A civil rights exhibition will feature South Carolina history with an emphasis on Williamsburg County’s role in the movement. The exhibit is presented in collaboration with the University of South Carolina’s Center for Civil Rights and Research, The Carolinian and the Georgetown County Museum.
U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn is scheduled to appear as an honored guest during Friday’s program, alongside speakers including Dr. Bobby Donaldson of the University of South Carolina and Dr. Tonya Matthews of the International African American Museum.
Events continue Saturday, May 9, at the Williamsburg County Recreation and Recovery Center on Thurgood Marshall Boulevard. A civil rights exhibition will be open from 1 to 5 p.m., curated by members of the 60th Anniversary Committee in partnership with the Georgetown County Library.
The weekend will conclude with a Presidential Gala from 5 to 9 p.m., honoring four HBCU presidents with roots in Williamsburg County: Dr. Henry Tisdale, Dr. Marcus Burgess, Dr. Leroy Staggers and Dr. JoAnn Wright-Haysbert. Additional presidents with local ties will also be recognized.
