ATLANTA (January 21, 2016) | Sen. Ed Harbison (D – Columbus) was honored with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Award by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity on January 18, 2016.
The award was presented as part of the 30th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Award Breakfast at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center. The theme of the event was “Keeping the Dream Alive: A Call to Service for the Greater Good.”
“I am proud to be the recipient of such a prestigious award, but let us not forget the unsung heroes of the civil rights movement; people like my mother, who will never be honored with any award,” said Sen. Harbison. “We can use this award as a call to action to never stop trying to bridge the barriers in our communities, just as Dr. King would want us to do.”
Sen. Harbison was recognized for his many contributions to the Columbus community, including his service as a former member of the Muscogee County School Board. He was also named one of the 50 most influential African-Americans in Columbus.
The MLK Jr. Unity Award was established “to recognize the contributions of an individual who has made a positive impact on the community by fostering harmonious racial and cultural relations.”