The ANSWER Coalition has joined with many others who have proclaimed that this year's Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend will be a time for protest and resistance, and are organizing dramatic street actions throughout the country.
On Jan. 15 -- Martin Luther King Jr.'s actual birthday -- activists in New York City took the message into the subways and on to the trains. In Washington, D.C., DC Ferguson organized a “Shut Down Downtown” march during morning rush hour. In Chicago, there was a Reclaim MLK Day and in Newark, N.J., airport workers organized by SEIU 32BJ stood up for their rights.
More is still to come! In cities across the country, there will be speak-outs, visibility, outreach and contingents in Martin Luther King Jr. parades and walks continuing through Jan. 19.
This country needs a sustained nationwide movement against racism and police terror.
Click here for a list of actions.
Call to Action
The political establishment, from the White House to City Halls everywhere, will evoke Dr. Martin Luther King’s heroism and his “I Have a Dream Speech” as a way of legitimizing the tradition of dissent in U.S. history. Yet for the millions who have taken to the streets in reaction to the growing national movement against racist police terror, the words and legacy of Dr. King carry a different meaning.
Having his life threatened by the FBI and finally being assassinated by the most reactionary elements in the United States, Dr. King was known in his later years as a staunch critic of the U.S. economic and political system that forced upon the Black nation poverty and violence, yet preached “liberty” and “democracy” abroad.
Dr. King said, “I am convinced that if we are to get on the right side of the world revolution, we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. We must rapidly begin — we must rapidly begin the shift from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism and militarism are incapable of being conquered.”
Today, after the killings of Mike Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Akai Gurley, Rumain Brisbon, Ezell Ford and so many more – all racist police killings of unarmed Black men who have received no justice by the same system Dr. King condemned years ago – the growing movement against racism and police terror can reclaim the radical tradition of one of the key figures of the civil rights movement.
Across the country, the ANSWER Coalition and scores of other national and local organizations are taking part in speak-outs, actions on public transportation, contingents in parades and more demanding “Stop the War on Black America” and “Stop Racist Police Terror.”
Event Listing
New York City, N.Y.
Take the Movement onto the Trains on Dr. King’s Birthday
Thursday, January 15
All Day
All over the city!
Click here to read the Call to Action, learn additional details and RSVP
San Francisco, Calif.
Honor the Real Legacy of Dr. King!
Take to the streets to stop racist police terror
Saturday, January 17
Speak-out at 12:00 Noon at 24th & Mission
Then hit the buses & BART at 1:00 p.m.
Contingent at MLK Day Parade
Monday, January 19
11:00 a.m.
CalTrain Station -- south of the Lefty O'Doul Bridge near AT&T Park
Washington, D.C.
“Shut Down Downtown”
Thursday, January 15
Gather at 7:00 a.m.
Mt. Vernon Square
Organized by DC Ferguson
For more information:
Website
Official DCFerguson Facebook page
Official Twitter account
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Walk and Parade
Beginning at 2500 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE at 10:00 a.m.
Official website
The ANSWER Coalition will have a contingent. Email [email protected] for details about how to meet up.
Chicago, Ill.
Reclaim MLK Day
Satuday, Jan. 15
6:00 p.m.
1001 W. Roosevelt Road
4 Mile March
Monday, Jan. 19
12:00 p.m.
City Gallery in the Historic Water Tower
Pittsburgh, Penn.
Mass March Against the Racist Wars at Home and Abroad
Monday, Jan. 19
6:00 p.m.
Forbes and Bigelow Ave
E-mail [email protected] for more information
Philadelphia, Penn.
Martin Luther King Day of Action, Resistance and Empowerment
Monday, Jan. 19
1:30 p.m.
440 N. Broad Street (School Reform Commission headquarters)
E-mail [email protected] for more information
Los Angeles, Calif.
ANSWER LA is a part of the Martin Luther King Coalition action
Joining the larger Kingdom Day Parade
Demanding an Jobs, Justice and an End to Racist Police Brutality
Monday, January 19
10:00 a.m. (come early)
Martin Luther King and Vermont Ave
(Stay tuned, gathering location may change)
Contact ANSWER LA at 323-394-3611 or [email protected].
Seattle, Wash.
"Fight for your rights in 2015" Martin Luther King Day March and Rally
Monday, January 19
Assemble at Garfield High School, 23rd and E Jefferson
Workshops: 9:00 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.
Rally: 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Pre-march speakers 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
March leaves at 12:00 Noon
Sponsored by Seattle Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee
For event info call 253-883-9548 or 206-786-2763
To march with ANSWER call 206-568-1661
Newark, N.J.
Join Newark Airport Workers, organized by SEIU 32BJ, who are demanding raises and the MLK holiday
Thursday, January 15
10:00 a.m.
Weequahic Park (Frelinghuysen Ave. & Haynes Ave)
Albuquerque, N.M.
Martin Luther King Jr. Annual March
January 17
10:00 a.m.
March begins at the NE corner of University Blvd & Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd
Official webpage: http://www.nmmlksc.com/
The ANSWER Coalition will have a contingent demanding Jobs, Justice and an End to Racist Police Brutality
Join our contingent: [email protected] | 505-359-5659
25th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Multicultural Celebration
January 19,
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Congregation Albert, 3800 Louisiana Blvd NE
This will be an important celebration honoring New Mexico individuals and organizations who have advanced the values put forth by Dr. King. One of the honorees will be Preston Wood, founding member of ANSWER's New Mexico chapter.
Sacramento, Calif.
Join the police brutality contingent in the MLK march: continue Martin Lurther King Jr's Legacy of fighting police brutality & white supremacy!
January 19
8:30 a.m.
Sacramento City College (3835 Freeport Blvd)
Endorse the movement by contacting ANSWER Sacramento: [email protected], 916.572.9680