Martin Luther King, Jr. Day events planned in Duluth

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed each year on the third Monday of January, and became a federal holiday when President Ronald Reagan signed it into law in 1983. King’s actual birthday is January 15. This year, there will be a number of events on Monday, January 16 to honor and remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

There will be a Community Breakfast at the First United Methodist Church in Duluth from 7:00 a.m.- 9:30 a.m. According to the NAACP, the breakfast will feature a brief local program and a community viewing of a broadcast of the program in Minneapolis featuring a keynote by Valerie Jarrett, the CEO of the Barack Obama Foundation. The food is coordinated by the African-American Men’s Group and will be served starting at 7:00 a.m. The broadcast runs from 8:00-9:30 a.m.

A freewill offering will support the United Negro College Fund which supports students of African Heritage throughout Minnesota to attend college. People interested in viewing the Minneapolis program online can visit: mlkbreakfast.com This event is sponsored by General Mills Foundation, Interfaith Action of Greater Inclusion, and food coordinated by the African-American Men’s Group.

Then at 10:00 a.m. the public can gather at the Washington Center Gym for activities prior to marching to the DECC. The Family Freedom Center will have activities for marchers who will leave for the DECC at about 11 a.m. Claudie Washington, a past president of the NAACP will serve as march leader. 10:00 am – 11:45 am.

The public is invited to join the MLK Rally from noon – 1:30 p.m. at the DECC Symphony Hall. Organizers say the rally will celebrate Dr. King’s challenge to us to “Keep Moving Forward” and feature a keynote presentation by Anthony Galloway, the pastor of St. Mark AME Church in Duluth and a principal with the Dendros group. This event is sponsored by the Duluth NAACP; UMD Office of Diversity and Inclusion; KY Interpreting Services, 1 Roof Community Housing, Duluth Entertainment & Convention Center (DECC).

For additinal Community Events visit https://www.wdio.com/community-events/