Benton Harbor City Commissioners have approved the plan for a monument to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to be located at Dwight P Mitchell City Center Park. At a Monday meeting, they signed off on the proposal from the Unified Civic Monuments Project for the statue, which will match a monument to be erected in St. Joseph. Speaking Monday, Commissioner Ron Singleton said the updated plan will be an inspiration.
“I see it as a spot for people to come and sit down and have some conversations about some of the things that went on and maybe some of the ways to heal,” Singleton said.
The commission in October tabled a plan to allow the monument over concerns about its size. Mayor Marcus Muhammad said the updated plan, while not giving everyone what they want, should be approved.
“I think that to put Dr. King up, even though we may not agree on everything, I think that it’s something that must be done and should be done, and I think that there’s no better time to do it,” Muhammad said.
Muhammad said it’s appropriate the city commission would approve the design during its final meeting of the year. The monument will feature Dr. King and a young boy with a quote from King and some stools for people to sit and reflect.
