Photo by Minal Singh/NWAW
This Monday, Jan. 18, many Americans across the nation — but not enough — will celebrate and honor the legacy of the most famous Civil Rights activist in this country. Instead of treating this federal holiday like any other day off of work, we strongly urge you to attend and participate in the 34th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, a rally and march, at Garfield High School in Seattle.
It’s important, especially, for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans to engage in this celebration and stand alongside our fellow sisters and brothers of color. We have lost track of the number of times we have overhead people complain about the fragmentation among Seattle’s communities of color.
We say, instead of pointing fingers at what is wrong or lacking, we should be the firsts to reach out and build friendships. People of color should always try to support one another. We have a lot of common experiences and struggles — but we also have personal contexts that are wholly unique. It’s so important to really stop and listen, to learn from each other instead of relying on stereotypes, which we press on too much. We think we know other people, but there are instances in which we are judging, not empathizing.
On Monday, we need to strive to be the ones to make the first move. There’s no other better time or opportunity than at a rally and march with such historical significance, which speaks to concerns about racial inequity that we still have today.
Regardless of rain, sun, or snow, the event will kick off with morning workshops in classrooms, discussing topics ranging from Black Lives Matter to human trafficking and trade policy. Following the workshops will be a rally to lead into the march in the Garfield gymnasium featuring a number of speakers, poetry readings, and music performances.
The march route will conclude at the federal courthouse building where Black Panther Ron Johnson will read parts of King’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech. (end)