Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Monday, January 20

AFN joins the statewide Alaska community in celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 20th and the 50th Anniversary of Dr. King’s receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

It is vitally important that we honor great leaders who made a difference in the lives of all Americans, remembering their stories and teaching the stories to our children.   The nonviolent African-American civil rights movement Dr. King led is an inspiration to the persecuted, underserved and disenfranchised the world over.

Alaska’s own civil rights holiday, Elizabeth Peratrovich Day on February 16, honors a woman who dared to stand up for what is right and speak truth to power.  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had this to say about speaking out:  “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”