MLK Day is more then simply a day off, it holds an important message
“These are revolutionary times. All over the globe men are revolting against old systems of exploitation and oppression, and out of the wounds of a frail world, new systems of justice and equality are being born.” said Martin Luther King Jr. in his A Time to Break the Silence speech.
Last Monday marked the country’s annual day of recognition towards civil rights leader and minister Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A contention day to some as increasing more citizens have come to see the commodification and sanitization of MLK’s legacy to be problematic. Many efforts have been made across the nation to realign this day with his actual messages of racial and economic justice, not only through the medium of peaceful protest, but also civil disobedience and radical structural change. Many of the MLK events in Humboldt could be found partaking in this national movement.
Local bilingual and charter elementary school, Fuente Nueva, last Friday celebrated the upcoming holiday through a series of black guest speakers from organizations ranging from Black Humboldt, Eureka’s NAACP, B-Men, and many more. After the event’s collection of inspiring speeches, delivered to the awaiting children located in the front rows, all attendees were invited to walk a mile march in remembrance of MLK’s own March on Washington.
HSU held its own MLK event on Monday as well. Starting in the early hours of 8am and hosted by Youth Educational Services (Y.E.S), the event was labelled “A Day On, Not A Day Off” and focused on community service volunteering. Guest speakers included our own Dean of Students, Dr. Eboni Ford-Turnbow, and prominent activist Bree Newsome. Volunteering activities ranged from on campus to off, Arcata to Eureka, and included a variety of public services. For many students and community members in Humboldt, MLK Day was not simply a vacation but an opportunity to give back and to keep Martin Luther King Jr’s dream truly alive.
Photo by Morgan Hancock | HSU student volunteer on MLK day Monday Jan. 17.
The 5th grade students of Fuente Nueva lead the one mile march for Peace & Justice in Arcata on Friday, Jan 14th. Photo by Morgan Hancock.
“So often MLK is portrayed in a very white-washed and sanitized way. I think he was portrayed in a very true way here today.” said Marche Hines, a mother of two children who currently attend Fuente Nueva Charter School.
On Friday, January 14th, three days prior to the upcoming national holiday of revered civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, bilingual charter school Fuente Neuva hosted an event entitled “Dreams Coming Alive” in his honor. Students, parents, and community members alike were invited to come and participate and to hear the voices and words of many important black community members and organizations from around the county.
One such speaker was James Braggs, an active member of Black Male Empowerment Network (B.MEN) and Black Humboldt, who opened the outdoor event at 8:30 am with a short land acknowledgement and prayer. Braggs expressed in both portions of his speech the importance of remembering history and learning from it. Reflecting on where we have grown, and being grateful, and reflecting on where we can improve, and changing it.
“Remembrance is critical,” Braggs said later that day during a personal one-on-one interview with the Lumberjack. “It’s important to acknowledge the history.”
“King existed due to the work of thousands of ordinary people,” Braggs said as well, explaining how we often fail to see the bigger picture behind MLK’s events and actions. “[It] wasn’t just super smart politicians and leaders. It was mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters.”
After Braggs opening prayer, president of the Humboldt county’s NAACP, Sharrone Blanck, stepped up to the stage, greeted by the children in the front and adults in the back. Blanck’s speech revolved around the ideas such as the importance of diversity in groups and the freedom for everyone to live life as their full selves.
“We exist here as individuals and we have the privilege to be a part of groups,” Blanck’s said. “Who we are connects us to other people. I’m a black woman, I’m a Jewish woman, I’m a mom and a wife, I’m a friend, and all those parts of me I bring wherever I go.”
April Koepke, attendee and parent of two students, noted this particular speech as being her favorite.
“[It’s] important for young people to know the values of working together and the equality of all.” she said, hoping that this speech will become an inspiration to her own children over the years.
Students, staff, and community members participant in a short yoga session before the start of the march. Photo by Morgan Hancock.
Other important speakers included Dr. Kintay Johnson, current director of CR’s Multicultural Center, Lorenza Simmons, youth coordinator at HC Black Music & Arts, and Mo Desir, co-founder of Black Humboldt. Each telling their own unique story of how they empowered themselves and the people around them in Humboldt county in the struggle to have their voices as black people be heard. Never being afraid to point out the changes that still need to be made and the injustice still faced by their community everyday, in a way that not only adults could understand but the children as well.
“[The event] let students of color know [that] they’re heard,” Hines said
Cybele Porpee, another attendee and mother of a student, found the event inspiring.
“It helped me review my own goals, hopes for the future, and engagement towards the community,” Porpoise said.
“Diversity, multiculturalism, acceptance, everything he taught is important,” she added.
The event hit its peak at 10:30, when students, staff, parents, and attendees alike were asked to participate in a mile march around the school, a moment to show students MLK’s often used tactic of righteous civil disobedience in practice and for both young and old alike to walk in the footsteps of not only him but of his many fellow protestors too.
Fifth graders led the march through the school’s neighborhood. Each carefully held the main banner heralding the beginning of the protest. Towards the caboose of the group were the younger first grade students, carrying their own posters with messages for peace and equality. Each student along with their parents, staff, and attendees stepped in sync crying out for the peace and equality of all, and the respect, dignity, and right to life of every black and brown person locally and nationally.
MLK day of service is a national initiative. This year at HSU there was an event hosted via Zoom for Martin Luther King Jr. that began with a keynote speaker, LaTosha Brown and continued into two breakout rooms with workshops such as Art and Community Activism by Aundrea Stuckey from Youth Art Will Succeed (YAWS).
Prior to the event, Molly Kresl, the student life coordinator, was excited about the event still going on regardless of not being able to host it in person due to the pandemic protocols.
“Last year we did MLK day of service and we had three different volunteer sets and over a hundred people to volunteer and eighty participated,” Kresl said. “It was totally successful and we were so happy.”
Kresl wanted to continue the event virtually to allow the community to be able to participate in the event from the safety of their home and still get a meaningful experience.
“Us being in a virtual semester, we wanted to continue the tradition because it is a brand new tradition, we think it is a really valuable and important event,” Kresl said. “So we had to kinda reinvent what it looked like.”
Towards the end of introductions, a slide was dedicated to labor and land recognition such as native land in Humboldt county and acknowledging the labor that built this country.
LaTosha Brown was the first keynote speaker and spoke about what MLK day means, the work she has done for Black Voters Matters, experience, and motivating the audience. In the beginning, she sang a song and spoke on the impact of the song.
“A song in their heart, they had hope,” Brown said.
Brown’s speech related to addressing those who have been affected by COVID-19 and this year in general.
Within the break, there was an option to join breakout groups composed of participants and main speaker interactions through the chat and aloud. Most of the content of the breakout rooms was back and forth conversation and understanding the importance of MLK day.
Stuckey’s breakout room focused on subjects within the art community and involvement with POC artwork in Humboldt county.
“Where do you see black art? Black people?” Stuckey said.
The second breakout room was dedicated to discussion between participants and main speaker Ron White from the Humboldt Area Foundation discussing his presentation “The Salvation of Democracy: Civic Engagement of the Dispossessed.” Sarah Hammoudi, a senior bachelor’s social work major, attended the second breakout session with White and was a participant for the event.
“I then attended the workshop held by Ron White on civic engagement and it was an amazing opportunity,” Hammoudi said. “I was even able to speak in a small breakout group with him which gave me even more insight and inspiration.”
Overall the end of the event ended with questions from participants to the main coordinators and speakers and leveled into a deep discussion.
“LaTosha Brown, the keynote speaker, was absolutely inspiring and provided amazing insight,” Hammoundi said. “ She said ‘we are called to evolve’ which makes me remember despite how unpredictable the past year’s circumstances have been, we surely can be a piece to making real change one day.”
Hammoundi was inspired not only by Brown but also the event, the other speakers, and the meaning behind the day itself.
“MLK day to me definitely is a reminder to do good for others as you wish to receive,” Hammoudi said.
The sun shined bright and warm on the morning of Jan. 21 as nearly 200 people showed up at the Humboldt county courthouse to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event was put on by Centro del Pueblo, Justice for Josiah, NAACP and the Seven Generation Fund for the Rights of Indigenous People. Nathaniel McGuigan, a senior majoring in biology, was there to show his support.
“I am here to commemorate the radical legacy of Martin Luther King and to further demand justice for the family of Josiah Lawson,” McGuigan said.
The event kicked off at 10:30 a.m. with a speech from Yurok tribal elder Jene L. McCovey. McCovey blessed the event and acknowledged some of the problems currently happening in the country such as the family separation policy and the migration problems at the U.S/Mexico border. The event at the courthouse featured a number of speakers from a variety of organizations. Renee Saucedo, volunteer organizer for Centro del Pueblo, was the first to take the stage after McCovey’s blessing and spoke of some of the problems people of color in Humboldt face.
“There is still racial profiling, racial bias, poverty and homelessness,” Saucedo said to the crowd. “By us being here today, we are showing that we are going to continue to fight to change these things.”
Deema Hindawi sharing her experiences in Humboldt County on Jan. 21. Photo by Freddy Brewster
Deema Hindawi, a junior majoring in criminology and justice studies, also gave a speech detailing her experiences here in Humboldt. Hindawi spoke of micro-aggressions and how students of color feel othered in the community. Charmaine Lawson, mother of the late Josiah Lawson, was also in attendance and gave a riveting speech.
“I stand here still waiting for justice to be served and I’m not going anywhere,” Lawson said to a cheering crowd. “When we send our children to college, we want them to come back alive.”
Lawson also demanded justice for Corey Clark and Garret Rodriguez; both victims of unsolved murders here in Humboldt. After the speeches a march took place, ending at the Adorni Center on Waterfront Drive in Eureka. The chiefs of police for Eureka and Arcata were in attendance, as well as Fifth District Supervisor Steve Madrone and Allen McCloskey, Union Leader for the National Health Care Workers. Brian Ahearn, chief of police for the city of Arcata, said that he attended the event at the invitation of Steve Watson, Eureka’s chief of police.
“I’m here to build solidarity and to recognize Martin Luther King Jr., to remember Josiah Lawson and all victims of violence,” Ahearn said. “Today is about healing and continuing the process.”
MLK marchers cross 3rd and L Street in Eureka on their way to the Adorni Center on Jan. 21. Photo by Freddy Brewster
Ahearn is fairly new to the area and has come in amidst a number of resignations from local law enforcement; most of whom have been involved with the Lawson case. Ahearn has expressed a desire to build bridges and to tear down barriers between the community and law enforcement. Chief Steve Watson of Eureka PD expressed similar desires.
“I am here to support our community coming together,” Watson said. “Events like this are good to build bridges. I long for the day that these uniforms we have on are not feared.”
Correction: A previous version of this article listed McCovey as a Wiyot tribe member. (Updated 9:25 a.m. 1/24/19)
Charmaine Lawson and Communities of Color hold rally highlighting issues of racism and injustice
Even before the Humboldt County Women’s march was reinstated, Charmaine Lawson organized a march after she heard of its cancellation. Lawson is the mother of David Josiah Lawson, a student of color who was murdered on April 15, 2017, while a sophomore at Humboldt State University and whose case is yet solved. In the 21 months since her son’s murder, Lawson has been driving community outreach and organizing events in Humboldt County while living in Southern California.
“It’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day so lets invite people of all backgrounds, creed, religion, sexual orientation,” Lawson said. “Let’s invite everybody out to celebrate and have a wonderful day for a people’s rally.”
Lawson reached out to her Justice For Josiah supporters the day after she heard the cancellation of the women’s march. She spoke with Rene Saucedo, a committee member at Centro del Pueblo, who Lawson said “has done a lot of our talks on race and whats going on on with DJ’s case.” From there, they reached out to the Wiyot Tribe, NAACP and Seven Generation Fund for Indigenous People, all who supported Lawson and are sponsoring the event.
“It was my vision and I said ‘we have to do something’ so lets reach out to other organizations,” Lawson said. “We immediately got responses and a few phone calls later we had an event in a week and a half.”
The original Women’s March in Humboldt County was cancelled on Dec. 28 for being “too white” and amid controversy was back on with new organizers. The cancellation made national headlines while the murder of Josiah Lawson has not. A problem which Jill Larrabee, an organizer for J4J, said is wrong with Humboldt County. During the 21 month anniversary vigil for Josiah on Jan. 15, Larrabee told the crowd of supporters of the open case, “We know it is racially charged, we have to say it especially as a white community.”
“Charmaine has formed a coalition of communities of color in Humboldt County,” Larrabee said. “A rally for justice, justice for Josiah and justice for everyone. Justice denied to one is justice denied to all.”
The past organizers of the Women’s March for Humboldt County cancelled due to a lack of diversity and said they wanted to put more energy in outreach efforts before the International Women’s March in March. Within 10 days Lawson had gained the support of diverse organizations in the community. Lawson said the people’s march on Martin Luther King Jr. Day is to show those outside Humboldt County that although it’s tucked away behind the redwood curtain, when it comes to banding together and preaching against hate the people stand united with one another. Lawson said Josiah’s case is being stalled by the office of Humboldt County District Attorney Maggie Fleming. Lawson said that on Monday they’ll, “focus on what isn’t being done and ask why they are letting a murderer walk the street.”
“No one is going to divide us and we are going to continue to push,” Lawson said. “What’s prolonging my son’s case is what Martin Luther King talked about, injustice, and that is what DJ is getting.”
The People’s Rally and March For Justice: Justice Denied To One Is Justice Denied To All will be held at on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. at the Humboldt County Courthouse.
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