Thousands have come together over the course of 13 years from all across the country to march in downtown Columbia for King Day at the Dome.

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Akeem Brown President of the SC Youth and College Division and Aaron McCoy former president of the Allen University College Chapter along with hundreds of youth from across the country took part in King Day at the Dome.

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COLUMBIA — The South Carolina NAACP’s King Day at the Dome is one of the state’s largest Martin Luther King Jr. national days of remembrance since its beginning 13 years ago.

The event is a show of support in persuading fellow South Carolinians to place greater emphasis on enhancing freedom, peace and justice in the state.

The Statewide Leadership Committee plans to gather tens of thousands of concerned South Carolinians, along with those from bordering states, at the State House in Columbia to support the cause of dignity for children, seniors and families.

In the shadow of the violent shootings in Newtown, Conn., and acts of violence, the National Alliance on Mental Illness will speak at the event this year, said Dr. Lonnie Randolph Jr., president of the S.C. State Conference of Branches of the NAACP.

The King Day event will begin at noon Jan. 18 in Columbia with the MLK Memorial Wreath Ceremony at MLK Park. At 8:30 a.m. Jan. 21, a King Day Prayer Service will be held at Zion Baptist Church, 801 Washington St. in Columbia. The march line-up will start just outside the church with step-off at 9:50 a.m. Marchers will travel to the State House down Main Street for the rally on the State House grounds