26th Annual Singspiration honors MLK

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- The community came together to celebrate and remember Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Sunday.

The 26th Annual City-Wide Singspiration held their service in the John McIntire Library Auditorium Sunday. The event featured musical selections from the combined voices of the Singspiration choir as well as a guest speaker.

Blair Tom, Assistant Director for the Muskingum County Library System, said the annual gathering brings together all parts of the community.

“[It’s] just the opportunity for the community to gather together, all aspects of our community, and reflect and celebrate and remember,” said Tom.

The guest speaker this year was Kenneth Burke, President of the Zanesville Unit of the NAACP.

“He has been just an active advocate for all kinds of opportunities in the community. So as we reflect on Dr. King and his sense of community, bringing people together, solving problems and making positive change, the local perspective with Mr. Burke will be really meaningful for our audience,” said Tom.

Tom said  the library plays a key role in this matter.

“From a library perspective we collect, catalog and share that history so that we can study the lessons of the past, reflect on them and then move forward. This is a small local part of us thinking about that on a national level and bringing it to the community,” said Tom.

The event was free and open to the public. Singspirations are held the third Sunday, every other month at various churches in the area.