MLK Celebrations Planned

By Tracy Dingmann
Journal Staff Writer

Several organizations in and around Albuquerque are holding events to celebrate the life of civil rights martyr Martin Luther King Jr.

King, who was murdered on April 4, 1968, has become a symbol of the struggle for civil rights in America.

He is the only African-American to be honored with an official U.S. government holiday.

This year, the official holiday will be celebrated on King's actual birthday, Jan. 15. However, scheduled events begin today and continue throughout next week. Here's a listing:

Today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Kirtland Air Force Base East Chapel will host the annual Martin Luther King Commemorative Service. The service is free. Enter at the base's Wyoming Gate and have driver's license, car registration and proof of insurance ready.

On Saturday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., Humanity For Haiti will host a Haitian Independence Day Celebration at St. Michael's and All Angels Church, 601 Montano NW. It will feature traditional Haitian cuisine, a silent auction and music by New Mexico Presente and Cuicani. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at door. Students get in for $6 and children under 12 are free. Proceeds go to help the people of Haiti. For information or advance tickets, call 232-4708 or 848-8240.

Also on Saturday at 7 p.m., the local Bahai Community will host the 12th Annual Martin Luther King Birthday celebration at the Rodey Theatre in the University of New Mexico Center for the Arts. Admission is free.

On Sunday at 3 p.m., the city of Albuquerque and the Bernalillo County Commission will host the annual King Day march, coordinated by the Albuquerque branch of the NAACP. Marchers will assemble at University and Martin Luther King Jr. and will proceed down King to Civic Plaza for a special program. The event is free.

Also on Sunday from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., AFSCME Council 18 will hold the 4th Annual Labor Party of New Mexico King Day celebration. This year's event will be at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 611 at 4921 Alexander NE. Featured will be dinner and music by Nuevo Mexico Presente, the Labor Party Singers and a select gospel group. There will also be moments in New Mexico labor history and words from King about organized labor. The suggested donation is $5 a person or $10 a family, but no one will be turned away.

On Monday at 8 a.m., the Grant Chapel A.M.E. Church will hold its 5th Annual Martin Luther King Day Breakfast at the Marriott Hotel at Interstate 40 and Louisiana NE. Guest speaker will be former Colorado state senator Regis Groff. Admission is a donation of $16. For information, call 299-8406 or 293-1300.

Also on Monday from 1p.m. to 3 p.m., Congregation Albert at 3800 Louisiana NE will hold its 11th Annual Dr. ML King Multicultural Celebration. Donations are appreciated and will go toward educational scholarships.

At 9 a.m. Monday in Santa Fe, a legislative forum on election reform will be held at the National Education Association building at 130 S. Capitol, followed by a Rally for Justice focusing on the disenfranchisement of minority voters at 11 a.m. outside the state Capitol. At noon, the official King holiday program will begin inside the Capitol rotunda. The event is free.

And on Jan. 19 from noon to 1 p.m., after University of New Mexico students return to classes, the UNM African-American Studies Office will hold its annual Martin Luther King Memorial Service at the UNM Chapel on campus. The service will be followed by a birthday celebration at the African-American Studies office in Mesa Vista Hall. The event is free.