Duluth to host events honoring Martin Luther King Jr.

By News Tribune Today at 8:37 p.m.
"It's important to get the message out," said Porcha Shadd of Duluth as she carries her 3-year-old daughter Aya Billingsley on her shoulders during the Martin Luther King Day march down Lake Avenue in 2017. "I want to teach my kids about Martin Luther King." (News Tribune file photo)

The legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. will be honored and celebrated in a series of events in Duluth starting Thursday.

The events, coordinated by the Duluth Chapter of the NAACP, are free and open to the public. The theme is "A Birth of a New Nation," taken from King's 1957 sermon of the same title.

This year's events include:

Thursday

Mayoral reception, 6 p.m. at American Indian Community Housing Organization, 202 W. Second St. Duluth Mayor Emily Larson and Superior Mayor Jim Paine will speak and give a collaborative proclamation for both cities.

Friday

Rhythm & Hues community dinner and performance, 5:30 p.m. at Peace United Church of Christ, 1111 N. 11th Ave. E. A night celebrating the contributions of people of African heritage in the performing arts. Dinner at 5:30 p.m.; show at 7 p.m.

Saturday

Youth Nation, noon to 4 p.m. at Denfeld High School. Family-centered event highlighting youth in the community. Games, performances, music and food.

Sunday

Inter-faith worship service, 5 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 300 E. Second St. An all-inclusive worship service honoring King's legacy.

Monday

Community Breakfast, 7:30 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 2430 W. Third St. The Twin Ports African-American Men's Group will serve breakfast. There will be a livestream of the Minneapolis Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast, where the keynote speaker is British-Nigerian actor and producer David Oyelowo.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in downtown Duluth. Start gathering at 10 a.m. at the Washington Center, 310 N. First Ave. W. March begins at 11 a.m., going through downtown to the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day rally, noon at the DECC. The keynote speaker is Minneapolis artist, DJ and activist Brittany Lynch; the Drum Major for Peace award recipients also will be announced.

For more information, go to duluthnaacp.org/mlk.

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