MLK Remembrance

Though his memory is often paraded alongside the dominant values of militarism and materialism, these were actually among King's primary targets. Along with racism, he called them the "great triplet" of evil that had seized American society, and out of this conviction worked to support labor organizing by the working poor, and to end the war in Vietnam. This page is a partial archive of efforts to remember and continue the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as covered by US-based IMCs. If you know of a story that is missing, please contact the editorial collective at imc-us-editorial((at))lists.indymedia.org.

local and national features

Jan 26 2012
King Day on Auburn Ave.

;January 16th, 2011 was Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Day in Atlanta and around the country. Atlanta had it's usual parade and speakers, all of which was very nice. But Atlanta Indy Media was interested in what the people had on their mind. What is the current satus of the African American community, is King's Dream still alive, what are the problems African American's are dealing with, and what are their victories? Is life improving for African American's in the age of Obama? This film is a series of interviews with people on Auburn Ave and asks is life getting better for African American's since Obama came into office, what needs to improve and who are the new leaders on the horizon. It runs 45 minutes. VIDEO

Sep 02 2010
Racist Rally Draws Thousands While "Reclaim the Dream" Sends Lukewarm Counter-Message

On Saturday, August 28, two competing marches were held to interpret the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have a Dream Speech," delivered on August 28, 1963 during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Here is a roundup of coverage from DC-IMC.

Pictured: Marcher wearing "Original Project 9-12" T-shirt

Text, Audio & Video of "I Have a Dream" Speech | Wikipedia Article on Speech's Significance | Music Video by Common

DC
Sep 01 2010
Review of Reclaim the Dream

Reclaim the Dream March could have been better.

I can say that probably more than 10,000 people took part in “Reclaim the Dream” March. It started at Dumbar High School culminating at the Washington Mall. The march did not have radical speakers or left leaning or calls for actions but rather it was more of a loud sermon since many of the speakers were reverends with their Jesus loves you speeches and God Bless America. It was more of a religious, Christian, and nationalist March with some complaints about the social and economic plight of African Americans. Other speakers included government officials, union leaders and Democratic Party elected officials and two token Latino speakers

DC
Feb 19 2010
A Corporate Hijacking of the MLK Memorial?

Was the radical Martin Luther King scrubbed from his own memorial? Was his memorial hijacked by the same corporations that hijacked Obama and the Congressional Black Caucus?

Jan 31 2010
Protesters Call for Closing Guantanamo Bay Detention Center

On January 18th, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, around 30 people gathered in the freezing cold on the Boston Common to demand that President Obama follow through on his promise to close down Guantanamo Bay Prison. The President had vowed to close Guantanamo Bay—located on a US Naval Base in Cuba where hundreds of accused "terrorists" are detained, many without charges or access to lawyers—within his first year, which ended on January 20th. The President, along with human rights organizations, have condemned Guantanamo for the use of torture and countless other violations of international human rights agreements.

Jan 26 2010
Make War No More! Martin Luther King Day of Nonviolent Resistance

Make War No More! Martin Luther King Day of Nonviolent Resistance at Lockheed Martin on Monday, January 18, 2010 in Valley Forge, PA.

About 50 people stood before the Valley Forge, PA complex of Lockheeed Martin in the bright sun and warmish air (compared to the days of recent frigid weather) holding signs and banners, and listening to excerpts from Dr. King's sermons and speeches. During a period of silence for the devastated people of Haiti, a bell tolled for all the victims.

Jan 22 2010
Chicago MLK Day Commemorated with Public Workers' March for Social Services

The final three years of the life of Rev. Martin Luther King were increasingly devoted to economic justice issues, and it was in that spirit that the newly-formed Public Workers Unite coalition organized a march in protest, at which some 200 rallied and marched through downtown Chicago.

Much like Reverend King, who was fighting on behalf of public servers workers during his final days, Public Workers Unite rallied against a series of planned cutbacks and layoffs in public services — public transit, education, and other local services — and targeted corporate welfare (rallying at the Chicago headquarters of Boeing) which by contrast is on the increase.

Chicago Indymedia coverage: Photos: Hundreds march for jobs and public service on MLK Day | Public Workers Unite! MLK Day Video

Additional Coverage: In These Times: Chicagoans Demand Public Services, Public Jobs on MLK Day | WHPK Radio: Interview with Earl Silbar about Public Workers Unite

NYC
Jan 19 2010
Workers Call on Starbucks to Honor Dr. King with March and Rally

The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) branch here held a march and rally at Starbucks to call on the corporation to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the federal holiday commemorating his birth. The Starbucks Workers Union of the IWW is demanding that Starbucks pay a holiday premium to baristas who work on MLK Day just as the Seattle-based chain does for five other federal holidays.

Jan 19 2010
Students and Faculty Occupy Building in opposition to SWAT POLICE training on WSUV campus

We the student and faculty members of the Center for Social and Environmental Justice and Social and Environmental Justice Club on the campus of Washington State University Vancouver are now meeting in our building of work and learning.

We are here today as a direct response to the police, sheriff and SWAT training that has been scheduled to occur in our building concurrent with the campus's prescheduled Martin Luther King Day events happening elsewhere on campus.

We feel that this training is in direct opposition to the strategies and philosophy of Martin Luther King. We know that if he were here with us today Martin Luther King would challenge the claim that this type of militaristic civil drill is an effective avenue for addressing acts of violence. Read More

Related: Workers Call on Starbucks to Honor Dr. King with March and Rally

Dec 30 2009
Worcester Peaceworks 8th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

Worcester Peace Works has since its founding in 2001 sought healing for 9-11, sponsored dialog between Jewish and Muslim communities; fought racism, anti-Semitism, and oppression against immigrants; opposedthe Iraq and Afghanistan Wars; In November 2009 we rallied against the Afghanistan War escalation and in December we vigiled against the hate crimes in Worcester. Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. we not only talk the talk; we walk the walk. Racism, gender discrimination, and economic oppression in all of their forms should be opposed. Unjust wars should be be opposed. Worcester should be a welcoming place.

Worcester Peaceworks
Eighth Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

January 16, 2010, Saturday, 1:30 PM
Green Roster Coffee House, 6 Institute Rd., Worcester

Keynote Speaker:
William Green, Civil Rights Attorney and Activist
Music:
Political songsters Professor Looie and Fast Eddie,
singing "Hurricane" and "Dreams"

http://www.myspace.com/professorlouienyc

Peace Prize: Stone Soup
Pot Luck Dinner
Free and open to the public

Jan 27 2009
Inauguration Week Coverage Roundup

On January 20th, 2009, George W Bush left the White House and Barack Hussein Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States. Despite efforts to transform the inauguration into a coronation, the people kept it real and independent media makers were on hand to document it.

From DC-IMC: In freezing weather, over one million, but maybe not 2 mil mostly 20 and 30 something year olds, were packed into the National Mall around the jumbotron screens to watch Obama get inaugurated (There was one big empty space behind the Washington Monument where there was no TV.) When the 43rd Pres, Bush, was introduced to the crowd, there was a very loud boo. And thumping gloved hands for the Obama. Read More | List of Events.

Some groups were welcomed with front row passes, while others that presented more of a challenge to the new regime's message were shuffled to the margins, snubbed or forcibly "migrated". And according to some Israeli officials, the ceasefire with Hamas was declared in part in order to prevent "distracting news stories" from interrupting the day's mood.

Still, activists were out before and after the inauguration, determined to make the most of the coming of this historic era. The day before the ceremony, on Martin Luther King Day, demonstrators called for peace in Gaza in of the slain civil rights leader: [1] [2] [3] [4] And the day afterward, clergy gathered to vigil and pray for immigration reform and anti-war activists assembled to demand that Obama stop the spread of the "war on terror".

More Reporting from DC: 100 Days working to close Guantanamo and end torture | | | 'These Boots Were Made For Launching': Hundreds Show Bush Their Shoes in Grand Send-Off | | | Muslim Inaugural Celebration Speeches and Interviews | | | UC-IMC Dispatches: Day1 | Day2 | Day3 (MLK Day) | Day4 (Inauguration Day) & some thoughts

Reporting from Other Cities: Los Angeles, CA | Northern CA | Portland, OR: Portland, OR | Rogue Valley, OR | Santa Cruz, CA

Commentary: Some Thoughts on Obama and the US Empire

Jan 22 2009
PHOTOS: MLK DAY 2009

The 27th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr., March and Rally was held on Monday, January 2009. The event honored Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for his work toward racial equality and economic justice for all people, for his commitment to nonviolence, and for his stand against war and militarism.

Jan 21 2009
MLK March pdx Article and Photos j.19.09

The march began at around three with some people singing "we shall overcome". The crowd, of around three to five hundred men,women, children, and dogs marched unhindered to st. Mary's church through downtown portland. There were no counterprotestors. Chanting "Hey hey ho ho racism has got to go", "whos streets?, Our streets!", "this is what democracy looks like", "waht do we want? peace, when do we want it now!" and more the crowd marched triumphantly in the road with assistance from portland police. At st.mary's folks listened to speeches.it was refreshing to hear many speak of peace in the middle east, also one of MLK jr.'s dreams.

Jan 21 2009
ANTI WAR PEACE ADVOCATES MARCH A MLK DAY in LA

Marching at the largest Martin Luther King Jr Day-the 24th year commemoration last January 19, 2009 from Western to Leimert Park, hundreds of peace activist and anti-war advocates marched with thousands of people chanting: “ MONEY FOR JOBS AND EDUCATION. NOT FOR WAR AND OCCUPATION!” The more than 200 protestors marched under the lead banner of the Topanga Peace Alliance and Veterans for Peace and led by the Cuahtemoc Azteca Dancers banging their drums. They marched together with more than 400 different delegations, floats and marching bands representing all shades and political color all over Southern California marched past the mains stage located at Crenshaw Blvd.

From the newswire: ANTI WAR PEACE ADVOCATES MARCH AT MLK DAY in LA by Echo Park Communtiy Coalition | | Peace Activists At the MLK Jr. parade by Cliff Olin

NYC
Jan 19 2009
ON MLK DAY, NYC JEWS CALL FOR ISRAEL TO HALT WAR CRIMES AGAINST PALESTINIANS

Thousands of drivers heading south on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway on Monday morning saw a series of banners proclaiming Jewish support for Palestine. The banners, hung by New Yorkers from the organization Jews Against the Occupation read: JEWS SAY: FREE GAZA, FREE PALESTINE, STOP ISRAEL!