On Monday, various cities across the United States recognized Martin Luther King Jr. Day with events like a “Dare to Dream Day” at a museum in Baltimore, parades and marches in San Francisco, and a large job fair in Houston.

As a federal holiday, most government buildings were closed, and the Postal Service suspended mail delivery. However, numerous events were organized to pay homage to King, celebrated globally for his peaceful struggle for civil rights and social justice.

In Atlanta, the King Center organized two weeks’ worth of activities themed “Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence365.” On Monday, events included a fair focusing on literacy, health, and career development, along with a commemorative service held at Ebenezer Baptist Church, which was established by King’s grandfather and later overseen by his father.

The American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore hosted an open microphone event for individuals to express what King symbolizes to them, along with various art, music, and dance activities.

Many communities, including San Francisco, held parades and marches to remember the significant marches from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965, which played a key role in the passage of the Voting Rights Act. Selma itself hosted a Stop the Violence Rally and March.

Houston was among the cities offering job fairs, with the promise of an event filled with resources for job seekers.

Recent Statements:

∎ New York Governor Kathy Hochul remarked that King “demonstrated the power of courage, compassion, and standing up for what is right. … We must persist in the fight to make his dream for humanity a reality.”

∎ Texas Governor Greg Abbott praised King’s “life and legacy,” affirming that the “hope he ignited in our nation will continue to shine brightly for future generations.”

National Day of Racial Healing

The day following MLK Day, Tuesday, is recognized as the National Day of Racial Healing. In Jackson, Mississippi, the Two Mississippi Museums, which feature the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History, will offer free admission. Director Michael Morris mentioned that the weekend’s events and complimentary entry would honor the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

“The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum showcases exhibitions related to that pivotal historical moment,” Morris added.

− Mary Boyte, Mississippi Clarion Ledger