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Martin Luther King Jr. Day in San José

Andrea Herrera, Reporter|January 21, 2019

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a national holiday celebrated in the United States to celebrate the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr., an influential African American civil rights leader. He is most well-known for his peaceful campaigns to end racial segregation on public places and for racial equality in the United States. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around King’s birthday, January 15.

King Jr. was a Baptist minister and social activist who led the civil rights movement in the United States from the mid-1950’s until his assassination in 1968. King is remembered for his famous and powerful “I Have a Dream” speech where he, during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963, called for civil and economic rights and an end to racism in the United States. Throughout the speech he expresses his hope for America and the need for change that needs to happen.

Through his activism and inspirational speeches, King played a huge role in ending the legal segregation of African-American citizens in the United States, as well as the creation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.Unfortunately, like many great leaders, he was shot and assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968. He continues to be remembered as one of the most influential and inspirational African-American leaders in history, that’s why he nationally has a holiday dedicated to him.

San Jose, and the Bay Area, will be celebrating this amazing holiday in many ways. Here are some events you can participate in:

Martin Luther King Jr. Stop The Violence 2019

The Stop the Violence event will be held on Saturday January 19, 2019 at Mayfair Community Center, in San Jose. The theme of the VIP Reception is to empower the youth and keep them safe. The reception will be held from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. General admission will be from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the same day. The event focuses on supporting voice of the youth. Tickets start at $12. Find more information on this event in their website here.

39th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Luncheon

The African American Community Service Agency Presents the 39th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Luncheon Celebration on Monday, January 21, 2019, from 12 p.m. to 2:00 pm at the Holiday Inn in San Jose. There will be vendors, sponsors, and awardees. This community service event, since 1980, has been an important part of the celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. day. The luncheon “unites a combination and trade organizations, corporations, philanthropists, and students for a one-of-a-kind affair.” To find more information and to buy tickets for this event, go to their even informational website.

Martin Luther King Jr. Film Festival

The African American Museum and Library at Oakland will relaunch their annual film festival honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This free event will be held in Oakland City. To get more information on the film festival and its program, go here.

A list of more events can be found in the Evenbrite website.

Let us never forget the man that inspired many with his peaceful ways and helped the United States move forward from the segregation that once filled the country. Happy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. day.