Paine College remembers Martin Luther King Jr. by furthering education

As a leader of the civil rights movement, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s efforts left a lasting contribution to humanity.

Members of the Louisiana to Los Angeles Organizing Committee, at right, took part in the Martin Luther King Jr. parade in Los Angeles.

These children haven’t lived in a world with Dr. King, but their world is very different because of him.

“He symbolizes unity, equal rights, improving ourselves and coming together”, Erika Pierce, attendee, said.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without people like Dr. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, all that”.

“People come together in celebration not just of him, but of where we have come from where he was”, said Sheila Charles, Ray Charles’ daughter.

“That there is a point to this holiday and it’s to recognize the situation of our prejudice and our racism and we’ve come a long way and we still have more to go”, said Colleen Parkin, U.S. History Teacher.

In Minneapolis, activists with the group Black Lives Matter planned to march onto a Mississippi River bridge that connects Minneapolis and St. Paul during a Martin Luther King Day rally.

“Each year we got stronger as a people and a nation, and as a community”.

A keynote address was delivered by Mary Hunter, 92, of Bangor, who described what it was like to grow up in the segregated South in the 1920s and 1930s and how King helped bring about change.

Pastor Boyd says as a leader in Christ, Dr. King has inspired his faith. “It really goes along with what MLK wanted – by serving people in need and getting people involved”.

Monday’s march was more than just an opportunity to remember Dr. King, but a chance for multiple families to pass his story on to younger generations.

Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls proclaimed January 18th as Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

“He’s someone that I can show my students and I can say, ‘This is what true sacrifice looks like, this is what true love and compassion truly looks like.'” said Ejaaz Mason.