Rep. James E. Clyburn Delivers Keynote at Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Honoring 14 Community Leaders

This picture was taken at a luncheon held at Heaven’s Countertop, located at 1641 Hertel Ave. Pictured from left to right is Bessie Patterson, Rep. James E. Clyburn, and Congressman Tim Kennedy.

On Saturday January 18, Kleinhans Music Hall hosted the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and Awards ceremony. U.S representative, James E. Clyburn was the keynote speaker. The event was sponsored by the Concerned Citizen Following the Dream Committee and coordinated by Ms. Bessie Patterson. This event also award ed 14 individuals with the Dr. Martin Luther King Award.

Representative Clyburn has worked in the Congressional sector for over 30-years and is the current representative for South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representa tives. He has been effective in his legislative leadership, and an unwavering voice for civil rights.

James E. Clyburn was born during the Jim Crow Era, in Sumter, South Carolina. He graduated from South Carolina State University and founded the Student Nonviolent Coor dinating Committee (SNCC). Clyburn has been awarded honorary degrees from 40 col leges and universities. James Clyburn was bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024, which is the United States’ highest civilian honor