Martin Luther King Jr. Day was signed into law as a federal holiday in 1983. It is observed the third Monday of January to commemorate King’s birthday, Jan. 15.
There are many events held across the country in honor of King, and local events include a day of service, lectures, and a movie screening.
- The Unitarian Universalist Church of Kennebunk, 114 Main St., is hosting a breakfast and presentation on Martin Luther King Day. The 8:30 a.m. breakfast is sold out, but tickets are still available for the presentation, which will be held at the church’s sanctuary at 9:30 a.m. To reserve a ticket, go to www.uukennebunk.org. The keynote speaker will be Shay Stewart-Boule, creator of the blog and website, Black Girl in Maine. The blog often focuses on matters of social justice and systemic racism. Her writing on race and diversity also has been featured in a variety of Maine and national publications. Music will be provided by Warren McPherson, music director of the Green Memorial AME Zion Church in Portland.
- First Parish United Church of Christ, 12 Beach St., Saco, is hosting the 10th annual Martin Luther King Day of Service from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A variety of free services and items will be available, including haircuts, health screenings, meals, toiletries, books and gently used clothes. Showers and washing machines will be available for use. All are welcome.
- University of New England will be hosting events later in the month in honor of King. Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, host of BET News and a political contributor for CNN will give a presentation at noon on Jan. 24. The free event will be held at the Campus Center in Biddeford. Hill was named by Ebony Magazine as one of America’s 100 most influential black leaders. He is an author and social justice activist. He is a founding board member of My5th, a nonprofit organization devoted to educating youth about their legal rights and responsibilities. He is also a board member and organizer of the Philadelphia Student Union. Hill also works closely with the ACLU Drug Reform Project, focusing on drug informant policy. Hill has worked on campaigns to end the death penalty and to release numerous political prisoners. The college is hosting a free screening of the documentary “Touch the Sky” at 6 p.m. on Jan. 25 at the Ketchum Library on the Biddeford campus. In the film, Henry Louis Gates Jr., celebrates how far African Americans have come toward equality and raises hard questions about the obstacles that remain.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].
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