FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Council Communications
Atlanta City Hall
55 Trinity Ave. SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

March 12, 2026

Atlanta City Councilmembers to Honor Abernathy Family in Celebrating Centennial Birthday of Civil Rights Legend the Rev. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy, Sr.

WHO: District 10 Councilmember Andrea L. Boone

            Post 1 At-Large Councilmember Michael Julian Bond

            District 11 Councilmember Wayne Martin

WHAT: Rev. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. Centennial Birthday Celebration             

WHEN: Sunday, March 15, 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: West Hunter Street Baptist Church, 1040 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. 

BACKGROUND: Councilmembers Andrea L. Boone, Wayne Martin, and Michael Julian Bond honor the Abernathy family with a proclamation celebrating the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. at his Centennial Birthday Celebration on Sunday, March 15, at West Hunter Street Baptist Church, 1040 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd., starting at 10:30 a.m.

The proclamation presentation highlights Rev. Dr. Abernathy’s life of service; first serving in the United States Army during World War II, then as pastor at West Hunter Street Baptist Church, and in his most influential role as co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. As co-founder, he organized several civil rights campaigns as well as leading the historic Poor People’s Campaign, securing fundamental civil rights protections, and inspiring generations of leaders as president of the organization following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968.

Rev. Dr. Abernathy passed away on April 17, 1990, but his legacy lives on and will be commemorated during his Centennial Birthday Celebration.

About Atlanta City Council

The Atlanta City Council is the chief policy-making body for the City of Atlanta. It acts by considering and enacting all laws that govern the City. The Council also approves the operating and capital budgets for the City as recommended by the mayor, and it continually monitors revenues and expenditures for local government operations. The Atlanta City Council reviews and has the final say on many land-use and zoning matters. Major economic development projects for the City also fall under the council’s consideration.

The Council is composed of 12 districts and three at-large posts. Council representatives include: Council President: Marci Collier Overstreet; District 1: Jason Winston; District 2: Kelsea Bond; District 3: Byron Amos; District 4: Jason S. Dozier; District 5: Liliana Bakhtiari; District 6: Alex Wan; District 7: Thomas Worthy; District 8: Mary Norwood; District 9: Dustin Hillis; District 10: Andrea L. Boone; District 11: Wayne Martin; District 12: Antonio Lewis; Post 1 At-Large: Michael Julian Bond; Post 2 At-Large: Matt Westmoreland; and Post 3 At-Large: Eshé Collins

To learn more about the Atlanta City Council, please visit http://citycouncil.atlantaga.gov/. For the latest updates, follow the Atlanta City Council on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram.

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Office of Council Communications Contact:

Bill Doughty
wdoughty@atlantaga.gov
404-330-6056 

Tiffanie Kelly
trkelly@atlantaga.gov
404-330-6014