Saturday night was the 15th annual Dr. King Awards dinner, celebrating the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and serves as a time to reflect.
A few of the awards distributed included those for Social Justice, Advocacy and Commitment to Economic Excellence, and the Dr. King award, which was given to the former director of Erie’s MLK Center, James Sherrod, posthumously.
Others recognized included Marchello Woodard and those who have been advocating for his cause.
Erie MLK Jr. Center mourns the loss of its executive director
Marcus Atkinson, interim director for the Martin Luther King Center, said, “It is really a time to be reflective of the legacy of Dr. King. We’ve done a lot of these dinners but this year is special for a lot of reasons. When you think about the words and actions of Dr. King, it applies now more than ever. When you look at the state of affairs in this country, other countries right now, it’s obvious that we need more peace, more love, more justice, more unity in this country and others.”
Prominent Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump also spoke to those in attendance.
Atkinson said the high attendance at the dinner represented Erie’s commitment to remembering Dr. King and striving to live by his teachings.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.