“A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true,” said Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during a sermon in Selma, Alabama in 1965.
King’s speech sent a shockwave through the United States. It galvanized the Civil Rights Movement, aided the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and embedded the goal of racial justice further into the American psyche.
The sentiment still rings true in 2026, with over 2,000 community members gathered in downtown Santa Cruz to commemorate King’s legacy and teachings on Jan. 19. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s (NAACP) Santa Cruz chapter organized the demonstration, which consisted of a march around downtown Santa Cruz, followed by a street party with tabling by local social justice and community organizations.
Demonstrators march down Pacific Avenue chanting slogans and carrying handmade signs. Photo 1 by Reggie Sasaki. Photos 2,3,4 by Nidhi Bhat.
Attendees began marching from Santa Cruz City Hall at 10 a.m., proceeding through downtown to end in front of the Black Lives Matter mural on Center Street.
Each year, members of the NAACP board gather to select an overarching theme for the annual march. This year’s chosen theme is “Stepping into the Future Together.”
Don Williams, vice president of the Santa Cruz NAACP and a theater professor at UC Santa Cruz, explained the significance of this year’s theme.
“The term, as far as stepping together, means that we are communicating, that means that things are very transparent,” Williams said. “You can walk by yourself and get a long ways, but when you walk as a group, you go much farther.”
Many attendees expressed a shared anger towards the Trump administration.
“I think a lot of people are like, ‘No, my government shouldn’t be telling me what to do,’”
said Andrea Batiste, a local special education teacher. “But then you turn around and vote for someone who’s going to rip families apart, rip kids from schools. How dare you?”
“I never wanted to be perceived as a mad, angry black woman, but I am,” Batiste continued. “So I’m embracing that right now. I’m not going to be afraid of being perceived as that, because it’s true.”
Demonstrators carry a model of the Statue of Liberty as they march down Locust Street towards city hall. Photo by Nidhi Bhat.
While the crowd largely consisted of locals, several UC Santa Cruz students used their free day to participate in the event. One of these students was Neel Dhavali, a fourth-year math and legal studies double major, who emphasized a widely felt need for connection.
“[We’re here] to reiterate and strengthen existing community bonds and create new ones,” said Dhavali. “[We’re here] to fan the flame of organization and ensure that people aren’t alone, especially in a time when being alone could be a death sentence.”
The constant reminders of a polarized country in turmoil were offset by music, performance and a palpable sense of community. At the event, there were several choir groups, as well as others playing various instruments like drums and guitars. Additionally, fellow participants joined in song and celebration.
Demonstrators brought homemade signs to the march — many depicting quotes from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Photos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 by Nidhi Bhat. Photo 6 by Reggie Sasaki.
Olivia Irvin, a first-year theater arts major, particularly enjoyed how the event encouraged her to self-reflect and give back to the Santa Cruz collective.
“I feel like a lot of the time we’re shut up in our rooms, especially as students, studying, and I feel like [rallying] gives you a new rebirth of energy,” she said.
Santa Cruz NAACP President Elaine Johnson presented the crowd with solutions on how each of us can get involved within the community in one way or another, citing her own struggles and lived experience.
“The key word is community,” Johnson said, “because without community, the work won’t happen. Change can’t happen.”
