In March of 2013, Jim Baggett, the head archivist of the Birmingham Public Library, contacted Sharon Davies, Executive Director of the Kirwan Institute, about the idea to have an international day of remembrance of MLK’s famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” 50 years after its drafting.
Its April 16 anniversary was approaching fast. The idea was to have the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” read by community leaders in cities around the globe on the anniversary. She agreed to organize an effort here in Columbus.