April 4, 2024, marks the 56th anniversary of one of the saddest days in United States history - the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

While many people take a few moments to reflect on King's life and his murder, these remembrances draw little public attention, at least in comparison to January's MLK Holiday and the speech he made at the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, where more than 250,000 staged a demonstration for “Jobs and Freedom.” Many choose only to remember the "I Have a Dream" portion of that iconic speech.

Locally, we have experienced a continued pattern of suffering, denial, violence, and homicides. Nationally, we are under continuous perpetual assault in schools, churches, and in public spaces. Gun violence is as interwoven in the social fabric as is FaceBook, Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat, AI, and smart phone upgrades.

Let's imagine an April 4th when community members not…