SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane’s downtown was filled with thousands of people who gathered to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The event began with a rally and concluded with a resource fair, all centered around the theme of continuing Dr. King’s legacy.
One participant emphasized the importance of generational legacy and connectivity, saying, “This is all about generational legacy and the inner connectivity of all things… We just want to encourage and support this movement.”
Noah Boelter from NonStop Local spoke with attendees who expressed frustration with the current state of racial relations in the country. This frustration drove many to participate in the day’s events.
The celebration included messages of gratitude from local leaders for past sacrifices and hope for the future. After a video honoring the late Happy Watkins, the crowd took to the streets, holding signs and sharing their voices.
Annabelle from the Spokane NAACP Youth Council highlighted the importance of active participation. “I’m here representing the Spokane NAACP youth council, just to keep MLK’s dream alive, make sure we’re all fighting for equality for everyone,” she said.
When asked about the significance of making Martin Luther King Jr. Day a “day on, not a day off,” Annabelle explained, “It looks like just being with your community, showing your support, even though it’s cold, and we all probably want to be inside, make the effort to just stand out a little bit and just support your community.”
Many attendees expressed their commitment to carrying forward Dr. King’s legacy by showing up to vote in the upcoming midterm elections.
