The UNM community will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday by participating in variety of activities this weekend.
The NAACP Albuquerque branch and the Isshin Ryu Club, Inc. are co-sponsoring the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday March Sunday at 3 p.m.
Harold Bailey, president of the NAACP Albuquerque branch, said the goal of the march is to re-emphasize the importance of freedom. Anyone can participate in the march. It is free of charge.
"We want to keep the principles of Dr. King alive because freedom, justice, equality and respect are still sophisticated problems that exist in the millennium," Bailey said.
Marchers are scheduled to gather at the intersection of University and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevards at 2:30 p.m.
The march will convene at Civic Plaza and a short, formal ceremony will follow.
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"We are going to have guest speakers that will present what Dr. King means to them," Bailey said.
The event is open to the public and Bailey said any group that wants to march is welcome.
"We also want to ensure that NAACP is not a black organization," Bailey said. "Our goal is to meet the needs of all people and everyone is welcome to participate in this event."
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Multicultural Council is having its 12th annual celebration Monday from 1-3 p.m. at the UNM Continuing Education Center.
Harold Pope, president of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Multicultural Council and associate director of recruitment services at UNM, said the program is designed to be a multicultural activity.
"This is a celebration of differences and trying to keep the dream of us being able to work and live together alive," Pope said.
Anis Johnson, a member of the council, said one of the events will include the distribution of 14 scholarships worth $1,000 to high school seniors from the Bernalillo County area.
"The kids have to write an essay to express their understanding of what Dr. King stood for," Johnson said.
Along with the essay, Johnson said students must have a high grade point average and plan to attend college this fall.
The charter members who started the organization 12 years ago will also be honored at the celebration.
Jewel Hall, co-founder and former president of the council, will be the keynote speaker.
Johnson said the purpose of the event is to celebrate what King said many years ago and pass this on to children.
"We feature mostly children performing in this celebration," she said. "Some of them are the Jewish HaShirah Junior Choir of Congregation Albert, a Native American grandfather and grandson performing a hoop dance and a Queen of Heaven School Girl Scout Troop will perform."
Johnson said the event is free and will include signing for the deaf.
Carnis Salisbury, 1990 Human Rights Award Recipient, will be the keynote speaker for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Saturday at 7 p.m.
The celebration will be in Rodey Theater, which is in the Center for the Arts on campus.
Salisbury was recognized for talking and organizing people in support of the 1963 Fair Housing Ordinance.
Salisbury was very effective in bringing members of the various economic and social strata of the black community together to support and work to fight discrimination in housing, according to a University statement.
