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Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller Celebrates the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Proclamation

List of events for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the Albuquerque community

ALBUQUERQUE – For the 28th year, the City of Albuquerque will observe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 18) as a legal holiday.  Mayor Tim Keller issued a proclamation honoring Dr. King’s legacy, and supporting events, including 30 Days of Non-Violence series that teaches the principles of non-violence as an act of resistance against the violence of racism.

Intended as a Day of Service, the City is encouraging City employees and community members to commit to serve on this day and in the future, and to dedicate their service to COVID-19 relief and issues worsened by the pandemic including hunger, racial injustice, homelessness, mental health needs and economic disparities. Events will be primarily virtual with limited socially distant in-person events, such as a drive-thru food distribution and a mural project that will follow CDC and state guidelines and social distancing protocols.

“We strive to honor and take action on the words of Dr. King not just this day, but every day, to strengthen our community," said Mayor Keller. "Albuquerque residents worked together to face unprecedented challenges and have the tough but necessary conversations of the last year. With renewed commitments to racial equity and justice, each of us has the opportunity to step up and work to be actively anti-racist in our own lives."

Community organizations, nonprofits, and faith communities nationwide are hosting events and celebrations in honor of Dr. King. In Albuquerque, a group of community organizations supporting the City’s Violence Intervention Program (VIP) has come together to plan 30 Days of Nonviolence, a month-long pledge to commit to the 6 Principles of Non-Violence against the Triple Evils of poverty, racism and militarism. . The community is invited to participate in a series of virtual educational webinars and town halls facilitated by community members starting January 18 through February 17. In addition, the 30 Days of Non-Violence planning committee is recruiting youth ambassadors to plan the next 100 day event.

Torri Jacobus, Director of the Office of Civil Rights and Managing Assistant City Attorney said, “We should try to live every day by the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The quote I think of most is, ‘History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.’”

“These past months have brought the immediate threat of white supremacist violence into stark reality. We hope all Burqueños take time to honor Dr. King this year and strive to do their part to make our city a more racially equitable community,” said Michelle Melendez, Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion.

If you’re hosting a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day volunteer opportunity, the City of Albuquerque can help you get the word out and help you safely host your service opportunity. To add your project to the One Albuquerque Volunteers service directory, visit: https://www.oneabqvolunteers.com. If you need assistance please contact the Office of Civic Engagement at 505.768.3052 or email [email protected].

While most Martin Luther King Jr. events have gone virtual this year, we want to remind people to continue to follow social distancing guidelines if participating in in-person events. 

The teachings and messages of Dr. King remain poignant as ever. Dr. King was a Southern Baptist minister and leader of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. King is remembered most for his push for civil rights through nonviolence and civil disobedience. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

Below is a list of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day events in and around Albuquerque and New Mexico.

 

30 Days of Nonviolence

For 30 days, community members will commit to practicing nonviolence as a lifestyle by applying the teachings of Dr. King to realistic scenarios. The community is invited to participate in a series of virtual community webinars and events. The website features links to recordings of the planning meetings and invitations for youth to join the planning process for this and future programs.

 

When: January 18th – February 18th

Where: Online at https://cabqnv.com/

Cost: Free

For more information about this event please contact Devont'e Kurt Watson at [email protected]  or 505-440-2616

 

Grant Chapel AME 25th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Commemorative Celebration

Grant Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church is celebrating this year’s theme: “Keeping the dream alive: A day ON, not a day OFF!” The program includes guest speaker Rev. Dr. Margaret Redmond McFaddin, recognition of sponsors, scholarship presentations, and a virtual souvenir journal.

 

When: January 18th, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Where:  Online

Cost: Free

For more information about this event, please contact Frank Jarabek at [email protected] or 505-293-1300

 

2021 MLK Day: Then and Now

Hosted by the Doña Ana County NAACP and the New Mexico Martin Luther King Jr. State Commission. The event will include an original speech by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. followed by a discussion moderated by Julia Brown and will include Gerald Byers, New Mexico’s first African American District Attorney; Harold Pope, Jr., New Mexico’s first African American State Senator; Leonard Waites, New Mexico MLK Commission Executive Director; and Johana Bencomo, Las Cruces City Councilor.

 

When: January 18 at 10 a.m.

Where: Online

Cost: Free

For more information about this event, please contact the Doña Ana County NAACP at https://naacpdac.org/contact-us/

 

MLK Mural Art Selection Committee

The CABQ Public Art Program, the Albuquerque Arts Board and the MLK Mural Art Selection Committee are pleased announce a call for artists to create a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. tribute mural on various walls of the Tijeras at First Street Railroad Underpass near the existing Dr. King Memorial.

 

When: Application portal opens Monday, January 18th. Deadline is Sunday, February 14th

Where: www.cabq.gov/publicart

Cost: Free

For more information email [email protected]

 

Burque Against Racism’s Standing Together Against Racism: Building Our Common Heritage

A free virtual event including speeches from Dr. Bernice A. King; daughter or Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; Dr. Susannah Heschel, daughter of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel; and Rabbi Capers Funnye Jr., Chief Rabbi of the International Israelite Board of Rabbis.

When: Sunday, January 24

Where: togetheragainstracismNM.org

Cost: Free

Sponsored by the Jewish Federation of New Mexico, Burque Against Racism, Bank of America

 

Kirtland Addition Neighborhood Food Box Giveaway

Co-sponsored by the City of Albuquerque and Roadrunner Food Bank, some 350 food boxes will be distributed at Thomas Bell Community Center to residents of  Kirtland Addition neighborhood.

 

 

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