Human rights group hosts concert

A local human rights group is sponsoring a concert on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

“Let Freedom Sing: Songs That Changed America,” sponsored by Love Lives Here in the Flathead Valley, starts at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21 at Flathead High School.

The program will include professional and student musicians, actors and choir ensembles from across the Flathead Valley.

Love Lives Here, an independent affiliate of Montana Human Rights Network, presents an annual memorial dedicated to King’s work. This year the show will trace songs, readings and videos that tell the story of human rights movements in the United States from black slavery to sex slavery.

Kalispell’s Bill Rossiter, master of ceremonies for the evening, will introduce performances by Luke Walrath, Betsi Morrison and David Ackroyd, founders of the Alpine Theatre Project; a combined student choir from Glacier and Flathead high schools; and the multi-faith Crown of the Continent Choir.

“The program promises to be a rich combination of music that is familiar to us and songs that are not in the usual repertoire associated with historic human rights movements in America,” said Allen Secher, program coordinator.

“There will be freedom songs from the Underground Railroad movement during the Civil War, an unusual rendition of ‘Amazing Grace,’ and songs we can all sing together.”

A highlight of the program will be the presentation of the Peacemaker of the Year award.

Nominations are being sought for an individual or organization to receive a peace quilt, which will be awarded each year as a “traveling trophy” at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day event. Anyone may make a nomination of an individual or organization promoting the values of peacemaking and community building in the Flathead Valley.

The Peacemaker of the Year award will be chosen by a joint committee of Love Lives Here board members and representatives of the Mountain View Mennonite Church.

"The peace quilt award has been created so that individuals and organizations who have the courage and perseverance to work toward a more civil, peaceful, healing and harmonious community might be honored, and so that the discussion about the importance of peacemaking is elevated in our community discussions,” said Allan McGarvery, one of the event’s organizers.

“We are seeking nominations of individuals or organizations who work nonviolently for change, bring people together to resolve differences, promote social justice and healing, and/or work toward the building of relationship and community in our valley.”

Download nomination forms from Mountain View Mennonite Church’s website, mountainviewmc.squarespace.com, or the Love Lives Here in the Flathead Valley Facebook page.

There is no charge to attend the Martin Luther King Jr. Day program. However, donations will be accepted to support the work of Love Lives Here in the Flathead Valley.

For additional information, visit Love Lives Here on Facebook or call 863-2333.