Danbury area to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day
The nation will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, a federal holiday marking the birthday of the civil rights leader.
King was born on Jan. 15, 1929, in Atlanta. He participated in and led marches for the right to vote, desegregation, labor rights and other civil rights from 1955 until he was slain in April 1968.
An American Baptist minister, King advocated for change through nonviolence and civil disobedience.
President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday honoring King into law in 1983, and it was first observed in 1986. It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.
Many Americans celebrate King’s beliefs, legacy and his life on or near his birthday.
Danbury
A celebration for Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be held at Mt. Pleasant AME Zion Church at 69 Rowan St.
The event, scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday, will include songs, readings and a candle-lighting ceremony, according to organizers. The Rev. Christopher Lewis is the pastor of the church.
The celebration is sponsored by the Danbury chapter of the NAACP.
“On the occasion of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, let us take inspiration from the inspiring life of Martin Luther King Jr. and make our lives worthy in every sense,” organizers said.
The public is invited to attend the free event. “Join us and bring the family,”
organizers said.
Ridgefield
The Town of Ridgefield will present its 27th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration, honoring the legacy of the civil rights leader with an awards ceremony, speakers and performances.
The free event will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Monday at the Ridgefield Playhouse.
The Spirit of Dr. King Community Service Award is presented each year to a member of the town of Ridgefield who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to community
service and selflessness in the finest traditions of King.
This year’s ceremony honors Wendy Lionetti, who has served the community of Ridgefield — both officially and unofficially — for nearly 20 years, in the town assessor’s office, in the first selectman’s office and now as town clerk. Lionetti volunteers her time and service to several community activities and organizations, including SPHERE, which enriches the lives of adults with disabilities through education, recreation and the arts.
Over the years, the town’s MLK Jr. Day celebration has grown — from standing on the steps outside of the Community Center, to moving into the basement of Town Hall for a larger event, to becoming even more celebratory when moved to The Ridgefield Playhouse in 2013.
This year’s event will feature First Selectman Rudy Marconi, Mark Robinson, SPHERE, The Ridgefield Chorale, Ridgefield’s Poet Laureate Barb Jennes, Kimberly Wilson and more.
Southbury
The Mattatuck Unitarian
Universalist Society will present “Still Prophetic: A Public Reading and Discussion of MLK’s Letter from Birmingham City Jail” in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The event will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday in the sanctuary of the United Church of Christ in Southbury at 283 Main St. N. The event is free and open to the public.
The letter will be read by local clergy and other leaders, followed by a discussion facilitated by the Rev. Tony Lorenzen, the minister at the Mattatuck Unitarian Universalist Society. It will touch on the letter’s continuing relevance to racial justice, public attitudes toward racism in America, and the role of the church and other faith communities in promoting racial equality and racial justice.
The “Letter from Birmingham City Jail” is one of King’s most well-known and often quoted works.
Written while King was in jail for taking part in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference protests against segregation in Birmingham, Ala., the letter is a reply to a group of interfaith clergy who signed a letter questioning the tactics and timing of civil rights protests in Birmingham.
King’s reply calls attention to the fact that the clergy are concerned about the civil unrest caused by the protests but do not seem so concerned with the hundreds of years of slavery, abuse and injustice that gave rise to them.
He also touches on some of his most important themes, including “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” “An unjust law is no law at all,” and “The time is always ripe to do right.”
“We hope that a public reading and discussion of this letter gives participants a better of understand of Dr. King’s context, his faith, his philosophy, and his methods,” Lorenzen said.
“We hope that learning about Dr. King and this letter will help participants better put in context current events such as Black Lives Matter protests, critical race theory, and the importance of free speech, public protest, and direct action as necessary elements of safeguarding democratic processes and principles.”