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Martin Luther King, Jr. (born January 15, 1929, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.—died April 4, 1968, Memphis, Tennessee) Baptist minister and social activist who led the civil rights movement in the United States from the mid-1950s until his death by assassination in 1968.
By Patricia | The Skanner News
Published: 11 January 2024

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a time that we celebrate, commemorate and honor the life, legacy and impact of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year MLK Day falls on King's actual birthday, Monday, January 15. Below is a listing of some local events.

Portland 

Saturday, January 13

11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

RECLAIM MLK COMMUNITY ART BUILD: Join Don't Shoot Portland in celebrating 10 years of honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr! Every year, Don’t Shoot Portland invites the community to learn the art of screen printing in support of our social justice work. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. we will make new signage for this years' community action followed by a lecture and book signing with visiting antiracist educator Ernest Crim III from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Pacific Northwest College of Art at 511 NW Broadway Portland, OR 97209 

Sunday, January 14

2:00 p.m.

EMPOWER THE DREAM ANNUAL INTER-FAITH SERVICE: The Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church invites you to join us for the 18th Annual Drum Major Ecumenical Services and 19th Annual Pastoral Observance. Theme: Now is Still the Time! Keynote speaker: Dr. Jessica Taylor, First Black female president Multnomah University, Portland, Oregon. Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church, 3138 North Vancouver Ave., Portland, OR 97227

Monday, January 15

8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

SOLVE MLK DAY OF SERVICE: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the first federal holiday honoring an African American, is observed annually on the third Monday in January. This day of service celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and stands as more than just a day off; it remains the only federal holiday recognized as a National Day of Service, encouraging all Americans to volunteer and contribute to the betterment of their communities. Each year, SOLVE marks this day by hosting volunteer projects that not only honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. but also enhance the environment for everyone. For more details on individual projects, refer to our website at www.solveoregon.org/mlkdayofservice.  

8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

THE SKANNER FOUNDATION’S 38TH ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY BREAKFAST: The Skanner Foundation invites the community to share breakfast and celebrate the life, work, and vision of civil rights icon the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. with its 38th annual breakfast celebration. Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. Purchase tickets here

11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

RECLAIM MLK WITH DON’T SHOOT PDX: This event is a protest, meant to include everyone as we support and uplift the voices of Black people. We are unapologetic in our movement for Black Lives and we use this event to center the voices of our children, who are most vulnerable to the systemic violations of civil liberties. We want everyone to feel welcome to support and participate in this movement work to uplift the Black family and our entire community. Not many events center the voices of children to uplift the Black community so we reclaim Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day for this purpose. Location announced day of. 

1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

WORLD ARTS FOUNDATION’S 39TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE TO THE REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.: This family-friendly event celebrates Oregon’s African-American community, on stage and through community-building in the center’s Victory Village marketplace. Suggested donation: $5 or 5 cans of non-perishable food. This year’s program features: Speakers Lew Frederick (Oregon State Senator), Rukaiyah Adams (1803 Fund), Ken Boddie (KOIN News), Margaret Carter (Former Oregon State Senator); Dr. James Mason (CareOregon), and George Hocker (Community Activist); Performances by MLK All-Star Band directed by Charlie Brown III ft. Andy Stokes, Tahirah Memory, Danielle Barker, and Eli Hardy; Jefferson Dancers; Lift Every Voice Community Choir; Sebé Kan African Dance Company; KairosPDX Learning Academy. Highland Christian Center, 7600 NE Glisan St. Portland, OR 97213

1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY OF SERVICE: Black Futures Farm invites you to our 4th Annual MLK Day of Service event. There will be farm-related projects and tasks for everyone to participate in. Please bring suitable work attire for winter weather and gloves, a water bottle to keep you hydrated, and gardening tools if you have them. Register at blackfutures.farm or contact Nia ([email protected]) or Daniel ([email protected]) with any questions. 6745 SE 60th Ave.

Sunday, January 21

9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

MLK “WALK THE WALK”: Walk, Hike, March through History Crossing the St. John’s Bridge. In celebration of Black History Month, Love is King is hosting an act of solidarity, encouraging everyone in the community to come out and join us as we walk, hike, and march across the St. John’s Bridge to honor the spirit, work, and words of Martin Luther King Jr. in a Selma Bridge Reenactment! We’ll begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. with a short presentation on the civil rights movement, Bloody Sunday, and the march of Martin Luther King Jr. from Selma to Montgomery, crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Cathedral City Park Public Parking, 6635 N Baltimore Ave

Seattle 

Friday, January 12

9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

51st ANNUAL MLK DAY CELEBRATION: Seattle Colleges host this FREE annual community celebration of the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. in the SSC Brockney Center.  South Seattle College, 6000 16th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106 

Sunday, January 14

2:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.

“SEEDING THE DREAM” HONORS DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ON BAINBRIDGE: Join Kitsap ERACE, Living Arts Cultural Heritage Project, and other partners at BIMA for this year’s-youth led and youth-developed Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration. We will examine contemporary impacts of Dr. King’s legacy and its inspiration of a new generation of youth leaders, activists, and artists. Featuring poetry, dance, oratory presentations, music, singing, and community voices, this event captures the energy, excitement, and earnest exuberance of modern daydreams of social justice.  Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, 550 Winslow Way E. Bainbridge Island 

3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.

REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CELEBRATION IN GIG HARBOR: An event honoring Dr. King with music and messages to END RACISM NOW. Light refreshments and snacks will be provided. Sponsored by Gig Harbor for Racial Justice. Speakers include Dr. Mollie, Fernell Miller, and Jen Self. Gig Harbor United Methodist, 7400 Pioneer Way, Gig Harbor, WA 98335 

Monday, January 15

10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY COMMEMORATION: Commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with free admission and programming at the Washington State History Museum. The event will feature two performances of the new play Where the Blooming Flowers Meet the Sky by local performer and playwright Darryin B. Cunningham. The event is presented with Tacoma Arts Live. Performances at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Ave, Tacoma.

11 a.m.

2024 MARCH AND RALLY: Every year, we do what we can to tell our civic leaders that Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream is alive and well. Join us for this outdoor, masked, and social-distanced event. The exact march route will be shared publicly the morning of due to concerns for safety and security. Time: 11:00 a.m. for indoor rally, 12:30 p.m. march starts. Garfield High School, 400 23rd Ave, Seattle 98122.

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