October 16, 2014 - Weekend Commemorations of the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act are scheduled for this weekend. They are part of an ongoing year-long series of events in Knoxville.

Civil rights march for Historical Black Colleges and Universities will happen at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18 on the Knoxville College Campus, 901 Knoxville College Drive. Participants are encouraged to wear college or university shirts or emblems that represent African- American pride and heritage.

Civil rights ecumenical service and "silver" rights reception will happen at 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon on Sunday, Oct. 19 at Fourth United Presbyterian Church, 1323 N. Broadway.

Knoxville native Bishop Warren Brown will deliver the sermon during the civil rights ecumenical service. Brown was educated in public schools and graduated from Knoxville College with a bachelor's degree in 1964.

"I'm excited to be part of the 50th anniversary celebrations," Brown said. "While I am saddened by the current state of affairs and the current condition of Knoxville College, I am happy to look back on the great history and legacy of Knoxville College and celebrate its great impact on former KC students."

Brown began preaching at his local church, First A.M.E. Zion Church in Knoxville, in January 1959 and was admitted to the Tennessee Conference in October 1959. From there, he went on to hold several leadership positions within the A.M.E Zion Church.

Brown was named as one of 100 most noted natives of Tennessee by the Knoxville Journal. In April 2012, Morehouse College inducted Bishop Brown into the Martin Luther King College of Preachers.

Bishop Brown is the brother of Daniel T. Brown, the first black mayor of Knoxville and current councilman representing the 6th District. The bishop is married to Aurelia Sanders Brown and has two daughters.