GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.– January 19 is Martin Luther Kind Jr. Day; a day our nation remembers the late civil rights leader and his quest against racial discrimination.
There are a number of events planned across West Michigan, commemorating this day.
Trayvon Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, and CNN correspondent, Marc Lamont Hill, will be in West Michigan for a few speaking engagements.
Fulton’s first event will be at 1:30 pm at Grand Valley State University. The second is planned for 6:30 pm at the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse on Grand Rapids Community College’s campus.
Hill is set to speak Wednesday at GVSU.
Monday only, Celebration Cinema is offering students free admission to see the movie “Selma” in theaters. “Selma” is about the 1965 voting rights marches in Alabama. Students must show their ID to get in free. Tickets are available at all Celebration Cinema locations showing the film and tickets are valid for any showings of the film.
The David D. Hunting YMCA in Grand Rapids is hosting a free “Day of Play” from 4-6pm Monday. The event features games and activities and is open to the public.
Baker College in Muskegon begins a four-day museum exhibit called “African-Americans in theMiltary.” The exhibit is open from 10 am to 6:30 pm in the Meeting Place. It highlights achievements from local Muskegon veterans.
The United Way is also celebrating a Day of Service. It’s a nationwide day of giving back in honor of Dr. King’s legacy.
Volunteers will be at the Boys and Girls Club on Madison Avenue in Grand Rapids painting inspiration figures on the club’s walls. The Oakdale Neighbors on Kalamazoo Avenue in Grand Rapids will be refurbishing bikes for the Boston Square Community Bikes Program.
Aquinas College will host MLK Day events, beginning with a Blood Drive. It runs from 11 am to 7 pm at the Wege Center Ballroom, 1607 Robinson Rd SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506.
The MLK Social Justice March is set for 3 pm. It will start at the Wege Center Mall, 1607 Robinson Rd SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506.
Aquinas students, staff and faculty will come together to collectively express support and advocacy for social justice. This annual march honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and acknowledges the sacrifices and contributions people of all backgrounds have made towards freedom and equality for all.
