Students, nonprofits, academics and community members took to the streets of downtown Santa Cruz on Jan. 15, to commemorate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). Marchers celebrated civil rights activists, like Dr. King, who fought to end the legal segregation of African Americans through non-violent resistance. 

“The goal of the weekend’s events is to bring our community together in solidarity, to celebrate the life of MLK, and to carry his legacy with us, to keep doing this incredible work,” said Elaine Johnson J.D., President of the Santa Cruz chapter of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and MLK event organizer. 

Hymns and anthems led by the Santa Cruz Peace Chorale rose above the parade. The wavering signs and banners contained varied messages from ‘Santa Cruz Community Credit Union!’ to ‘Democrats Fight For Health Care!’. 

All were united by the words of Dr. King as they blasted from large speakers.

Participator waves a flag that reads “Peace” in the MLK March towards Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium.

“For this community and many communities like this, there’s still a lot of racism and classism involved in housing and healthcare, especially in communities with lower household incomes. It’s not fair,” said local participant and activist Wren Reeve. “That’s what MLK helped to champion the fight against and why we’ve come out today.”

Speeches at the Civic Center

The keynote speaker was the Vice President of the Monterey County NAACP branch, Vanessa Lopez-Littleton. 

“We remember not just one voice, but a chorus of voices,” said Vanessa Lopez-Littleton

She called on the audience to remember Civil Rights activists Rosa Parks, Ida B. Wells, Malcolm X, and Marsha P. Johnson. 

She asked the audience to remember the names of Trayvon Martin, Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley, all killed by racial violence in the United States. She asked the audience to feel the struggle against hate without falling into despair. Her speech was guided by the three principles: peace, love and hope. 

“Let’s talk about love,” Lopez-Littleton said. “As Dr. King once professed, ‘I have decided to talk about love.’ Love is not merely an emotion, but a powerful intentional force that can overcome the darkest corners of the human experience.”

Speakers including State Senator John Laird (L), First Vice President of NAACP Monterey County Vanessa Lopez-Littleton (L), NAACP Santa Cruz County President Elaine Johnson (R), Vice President of the NAACP and Senior Professor at UCSC Don Williams (R), and Professor Dr. David H. Anthony III (R) lead the crowd in song.

The event was a family affair; young and old came together in remembrance of Dr. King’s legacy. El Hadji Mbor Faye, a UC Santa Cruz maintenance operator and Senegalese immigrant, marched with his young children to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. 

“He was someone who helped everyone,” Faye said. “It doesn’t matter where you’re coming from or where you are — his message will never end. It doesn’t matter if you’re white, black, whatever, his message was for everyone.”

MLK Youth Day: Saturday, Jan. 13 

Student Leadership and Engagement Coordinator Andres Ortiz (L) and Deshaun Miles of Santa Cruz County Black Student Union (BSU) lead a game of “Name that Civil Rights Leader” trivia.

Many community organizations were present and tabling including Umoja, the Black Health Matters initiative, Youth Action Network, Climate Action Board, Diversity Center, and Edi Educators, and the UCSC chapter of the BSU. Alicia Anyanwu, the internal community outreach coordinator for the BSU at UCSC, and Student Union Assembly Vice President of Student Life, spoke about MLK Youth Day.

“[This event] exposes youth to types of organizations in Santa Cruz and shows them the types of opportunities available,” said Anyanwu. “Santa Cruz is mostly white so this gives [the kids] resources that they can continue to use and grow from.”

Watsonville’s “Estrellas de Esperanza Dance Troupe” (led by founder and instructor Ruby Vasquez) performs a traditional Mexican folk dance.

This weekend’s events were a celebration of King’s legacy and a mobilization of Santa Cruz residents suffering from injustice and inequality to gather in community.

“We need community to strive and survive,” Elaine Johnson said.