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Photo gallery: Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday

Mateo Tibbs, 13, and Manuel Tibbs, 11, with Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Youth Group sing "Glory" during a Martin Luther King Birthday Party Celebration Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 at St. James Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn. The event has been held for about 20 years by the Unity Group of Chattanooga. Mateo Tibbs, 13, and Manuel Tibbs, 11, with Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Youth Group sing "Glory" during a Martin Luther King Birthday Party Celebration Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 at St. James Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn. The event has been held for about 20 years by the Unity Group of Chattanooga.

By Erin O. Smith January 15, 2018 1 min read

Photo Gallery

Photo gallery: Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday

Darrius Calloway,13, hosts a Martin Luther King Birthday Party Celebration Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 at St. James Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn. The event was filled with a variety of performances by local children from songs to spoken word.

Kambriah Reynolds holds a program from the Martin Luther King Birthday Party Celebration Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 at St. James Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn. The event has been held for about 20 years by the Unity Group of Chattanooga.

Patrice Toney sings along to "Jesus Loves Me" during a Martin Luther King Birthday Party Celebration Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 at St. James Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn. The event expressed the message that children were just as involved in human rights marches as adults although they have been overlooked, and that there is a place for younger generations to participate and use their voices.

Mateo Tibbs, 13, with Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Youth Group sings "Glory" during a Martin Luther King Birthday Party Celebration Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 at St. James Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn. The event was held to share the message that children were just as involved in civil rights marches as adults, and that there is a place for younger generations to use their voices.

Carrington Reynolds, 3, watches a video presentation as she sits with her mom Shasta Mignon during a Martin Luther King Birthday Party Celebration Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 at St. James Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn. The event has been held for about 20 years by the Unity Group of Chattanooga.

Jodie Emerson and her 7-year-old daughter Evelyn watch a video presentation during a Martin Luther King Birthday Party Celebration Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 at St. James Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn. Emerson brought her two children Evelyn and Isaac so they could learn more about the story of Martin Luther King Jr. and give them the opportunity to see that they can make a difference.

Manuel Tibbs, 11, and others from the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Youth Group perform during a Martin Luther King Birthday Party Celebration Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 at St. James Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn. The event has been held for about 20 years by the Unity Group of Chattanooga.

Leah Hill, 13, Jahmya Toomey, 13, Manuel Tibbs, 11, and Mateo Tibbs, 13, children from the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Youth Group, sing during a Martin Luther King Birthday Party Celebration Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 at St. James Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn. The message from the event was that children were just as involved in human rights marches as adults although they have been overlooked, and that there is a place for younger generations to participate and use their voices.

Kambriah Reynolds, 11, gives a spoken word performance during a Martin Luther King Birthday Party Celebration Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 at St. James Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn. The message from the event was that children were just as involved in human rights marches as adults although they have been overlooked, and that there is a place for younger generations to participate and use their voices.

Deacon William Bell claps along with a performance by the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Youth Group during a Martin Luther King Birthday Party Celebration Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 at St. James Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn. The event has been held for about 20 years by the Unity Group of Chattanooga.

Nicole Coleman gives closing remarks during a Martin Luther King Birthday Party Celebration Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 at St. James Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn. The message from the event was that children were just as involved in human rights marches as adults although they have been overlooked, and that there is a place for younger generations to participate and use their voices.

Quenston Coleman speaks during a Martin Luther King Birthday Party Celebration Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 at St. James Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn. Coleman founded the birthday party event about 20 years ago.

Attendees of Martin Luther King Birthday Party Celebration watch a video presentation about children involved in human rights marches Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 at St. James Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn. The event has been held for about 20 years by the Unity Group of Chattanooga as a training ground for children to learn about their past and the influence they can make in the future.

The Unity Group of Chattanooga presented the Martin Luther King Birthday Party Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018, at St. James Baptist Church in Chattanooga.