Columbia MLK candlelight walk, memorial highlights need for change decades later
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
About a group of 30 people walked from the Armory Sports Center in Columbia to the St. Luke United Methodist Church holding candles, remembering the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The walk was apart of the Columbia Parks and Recreation annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Candlelight Walk and Memorial Celebration. That number doubled at the St. Luke United Methodist Church, where people sat and listened sang songs and listened to several speeches from pastors and public figures, including from Mayor Barbara Buffaloe.
The speeches quote from MLK and reminded people in attendance of his legacy. Those who spoke also highlighted recent violence in Columbia, calling for a change. Columbia has been off to a violent start to 2026, with at least five confirmed shootings-- two of which left two people dead.
"I got faith that if we all come together, pray together and come on one accord, if we walk hand in hand, all of that violence will disappear," the Rev. James Gray said to the crowd on Monday.
Speeches also included talks on recent violence across America and the need to put an end to it. Coordinator for the King Memorial Association Bill Thompson also reflected on recent action taken by President Donald Trump's administration. Thompson read off a list of titles in the Civil Rights Act that he says are being infringed.
"At least a third of those things have been erased by this administration. They've turned back on civil rights. They eliminated the Civil Rights Commission," Thompson told ABC 17 News after the memorial. "All of this stuff is happening but the bottom line is, I don't think we've ever been in a position before where we didn't know how to change this stuff because basically, we have no voice anymore."
That's something that Thompson said he's hopeful will change, that people will stand for what they believe in and as a result, change will happen. Thompson also pointed out efforts made by the Trump administration to try and dismantle the Department of Education, as well as efforts to crack down on illegal immigration in the country.
ABC 17 News also spoke to Thompson about recent violence, including in Minnesota, where a woman was shot and killed by an ICE officer, and the tension that has followed since. Thompson said he believes what's happening in the world are not a reflection of what MLK would want.
"He would be really heartbroken because basically, all of the blood and the tears to get all of these things ...to watch these things being gradually taken away," Thompson said.
ABC 17 News also spoke to Gray following Monday's ceremony about the recent violence and tensions across the country. Gray said he thinks what's happening mimics what was happening in the country years ago, particularly the fact that he says good people are being treated poorly.
"Let's look at how many people they said they have mistreated only to find out that they were American. Let's look at that. It's taken us back. Doctor King had a dream that we all one day could come together, black, white, yellow, green, or blue it didn't matter. We're nowhere near that dream," Gray said.
Gray said he thinks King would tell people to come together in a peaceful way, rather than riot if he were still here today.
All city offices in Jefferson City and Columbia were closed on Monday, in observance of the holiday.
