Eureka’s NAACP held a virtual event to Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

EUREKA, Calif.(KIEM)- Each year, we observe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s day on the third Monday of January. The day honors MLK, a civil rights leader and minister, assassinated in 1968.

Pre-covid, we honored the day by participating in a march or an MLK parade. Unfortunately, events were canceled throughout the country due to the ongoing pandemic.

This January 17th Eureka NAACP held the 27th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s holiday and day of service. Members of Eureka NAACP and other community members commemorated Dr.King. But they started their presentation by first acknowledging the land Eureka is on.

“We acknowledge that the land many of us are on is the land, the unceded territory of the Wyatt peoples…And it has been a place for the Wyatt to take a break when traveling north in a canoe from the south bay… to the mad river,” said Sharonne Blanck, President for Eureka NAACP.

They had performances throughout the event by black artists, spoken word artists, and community members. 

“To my black king better yeat… my lord. Don’t you know you are our protector, full armor plus the sword? And your armor is your strength. It is your skin that mesmerizes melanin and your sword the words that pour from your lips,” said Sandra Martin, Spokenword Artist.

NAACP President shared her favorite Dr. King quote.

“If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl. But whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward,” said Sharonne Blanck.

President Blank announced the David Josiah Lawson Scholarship that will be awarded to 3 local high school students for one thousand dollars each.

In the end, community members were invited to a virtual vendor lobby to shop virtually from local businesses.