Glick Peace Walk Luminary – Martin Luther King, Jr.

  • Historical
  • Outdoor Sculpture

Glick Peace Walk Luminary – Martin Luther King, Jr.

  • Historical
  • Outdoor Sculpture

The Glick Peace Walk is dedicated to individuals who achieved greatness through peaceful pursuits. The Peace Walk includes 12 distinctive sculptural gardens that celebrate the lives and accomplishments of these “luminaries.” The design elements of the luminary gardens enable visitors to gain a deeper understanding of how these inspiring individuals were able to overcome challenges and dedicate their lives to the greater good of society.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968), was a minister and civil rights activist who advocated for voting rights for African Americans, fair housing, anti-poverty and economic justice measures, desegregation, and other social causes intended to ensure that African Americans officially received equal treatment under the law. He was also against the war in Vietnam, arguing that not only did it oppress and damage the self-determination of Asian people in their countries, it needlessly spent money that could otherwise be available for social programs at home.  His techniques included inspirational speeches and non-violent civil disobedience actions, such as the Montgomery bus boycott (1955), sit-ins in Birmingham (1963), and peaceful marches on Washington (1963, 1968). Although he was widely admired for his work, King also had many detractors, including within the Black community, and he was often blamed for race riots that broke out parallel to his nonviolent actions.  Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, as he was preparing for an event in Memphis in support of fair treatment of Black sanitary workers. Days after his assassination, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1968 that included many of the policies for which King had advocated during his lifetime.

The luminary structure and garden were designed by Rundell Ernstberger Associates, RLR Associates and Circle Design Group. Artists involved on the project included Smock Fansler Corporation, Tarpenning LaFollette Company, GRT Glass Design, and Santarossa Mosaic and Tile.