Brooklyn Academy of Music honors MLK Jr. with virtual event, digital billboard

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a man known for his activism, eloquent speeches and nonviolent means of protest. However, not many know about his love for art as a form of both expression and protest.

News 12 Staff

Jan 20, 2021, 2:08 AM

Updated 1,357 days ago

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a man known for his activism, eloquent speeches and nonviolent means of protest. However, not many know about his love for art as a form of both expression and protest. 
That love is something the Brooklyn Academy of Music has been celebrating for 35 years through its annual Brooklyn tribute to the civil rights icon. 
“Art is essential. It does help you move through very, very deep and difficult times,” said Coco Killingsworth, vice president of education and community engagement at BAM. 
This year, BAM’s celebration has changed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The event was live-streamed online and aired locally. 
In addition to the virtual event, BAM organized with local artists to create an MLK-inspired digital billboard, called Let Freedom Ring, on the corner of Lafayette and Flatbush avenues.