King's legacy a call to action for Metro Detroiters

Gatherings and activities across southeast Michigan on Monday honored the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., with participants vowing to continue the work of the slain civil rights leader. "The dream that Martin Luther King had is only meaningful if we force action based on that dream," U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence told a crowd of hundreds at Detroit's Fox Theatre. "This is not a time for us to dream. This is a time for action." The importance of remaining committed to the movement King advanced more than 50 years ago was a central theme for the Let Freedom Ring Awards that Lawrence, other public officials and the public attended. Led by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, which civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson founded, the event recognized four Michiganians cited as furthering King's vision.  Among the recipients was U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr., the longest serving African American member of Congress in U.S. history who died in October at age 90. He received the inaugural Legacy Award for his efforts that led to creation of the King national holiday.