For some people, Monday was just a holiday from work or school — if even that. At least two organizations, however, sought to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with special events. Both of those events included shouting; it was appropriate, however, in only one case.

A weekend basketball tournament sponsored by the Suffolk Parks and Recreation Department was exactly the place where one might expect to hear voices raised. Teammates calling for one another to pass or shoot, spectators cheering on the people they had come to support and referees blasting their whistles to stop the clock when the ball bounced out of bounds were all examples of voices appropriately raised in support of a good cause.

The Redeem the Dream Basketball Tournament attracted four adult recreational league teams and their supporters to have a good time on Saturday and Sunday, while recalling Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s message of unity and hope. All of the shouting was clearly in fun.

At the more sedate citywide celebration of Dr. King’s life, however, the shouting that was heard was completely out of place and completely out of tune with the tenor of the great man’s life and work.

The 30th anniversary celebration, held at Tabernacle Christian Church on Monday, included music, awards for local students and community servants and a speech by Patricia Gould-Champ, pastor of Faith Community Baptist Church in Richmond. It also included remarks from Linda T. Johnson, mayor of Suffolk. And it was during Johnson’s remarks when the inappropriate shouting took place.

Paul Gillis, an outspoken critic of a city redistricting plan that awaits approval by the U.S. Department of Justice, barely let the service begin before standing up as the mayor approached the platform and shouting, “One man, one vote!” and “What the City Council did was wrong!” He continued his chant even as Johnson began her remarks and even as he was ushered from the sanctuary by a group of men.

To his credit, the Rev. Carlton R. Upton Sr., pastor of Tabernacle Christian Church, apologized for the outburst before Johnson continued. Upton surely wasn’t to blame for Gillis’ inappropriately timed demonstration, but it showed a great amount of character for him to disavow himself of Gillis’ display and to get the service back on the right track. With that done, participants could focus again on honoring a man who knew when — and how — to fight City Hall.