INDIANA — Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be celebrated throughout Indiana on Monday, Jan. 18. The federal holiday honors the life and work of the civil rights leader and his accomplishments. This year, many celebrations will be held virtually. The Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Indiana Holiday Commission hosted the State of Indiana’s 30th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Indiana Holiday Celebration were on Thursday, Jan. 14 at noon online.
The program included an awards presentation honoring four Hoosiers who have worked diligently to improve their communities in a manner that exemplifies the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The 2021 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Indiana Holiday Celebration Award Recipients are:
• Freedom Award to Tamika Catchings – Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager, Indiana Fever
• Chairman’s Award to Robin E. Winston – President, The Winston/Terrell Group, Indianapolis
• Trailblazer Award to Shirley Weatherly – Community Activist and Retired Anderson Housing Authority Executive Director, Anderson
• Civil Rights Champion Award to George Guy – Executive Director, Fort Wayne Housing Authority, Fort Wayne
In addition to official recognition, many family-friend attractions downtown encourage people to come downtown with their families.
• The Children’s Museum free admission day
• Indiana Historical Society (advance tickets required)
• White River State Park attractions including Eiteljorg Museum (bring a nonperishable food donation), Indiana State Museum (2 2 hour time frames 10 a.m. to noon, 12:30-2:30 or 3-5 p.m. Admission is first come first served), NCAA Hall of Fame (bring non-perishable food item), Indianapolis Zoo 9-4 (donation jars available to benefit Gleaner’s Food Bank)
There will be free admission to Newfields (Indianapolis Museum of Art (advance ticket registration required at newfields.org) as well.
Indianapolis honors the slain civil rights leader at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park and Landmark for Peace Memorial at 1702 Broadway St. The memorial marks the spot where Robert F. Kennedy came to campaign, but instead delivered the news of King’s assassination in 1968.
In addition to honors and celebrations, as a federal holiday, all Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicle (BMV) branches will be closed Saturday, Jan. 16 through Monday, Jan. 18 in observance. All branches will resume regularly scheduled business hours on Tuesday, Jan. 19.
The post office will be closed, and no mail deliveries will be made. Local and state offices will be closed for public business. Trash pickup in Indianapolis will operate on a sliding schedule, with Monday trash picked up Tuesday, and so on.
