by Carley Litten
Martin Luther King Jr. was honored and celebrated by members of the Grand Junction community on Monday, Jan. 16, at the Grand Junction City Hall for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Friends and families gathered with signs and pictures in remembrance of King’s ideas of advocating the importance of equality as well as keeping King’s dream alive.
Grand Junction residents Eric Rechel and Phil LaRocca, who believe they have gone to about four or five Martin Luther King Jr. events in Grand Junction, explained their own personal importance of this day.
“This event highlights the need for social justice which means equal pay, equal housing, things of that nature,” Rechel said. “It’s degrading to have people who are receiving lower wages for the same job.”
LaRocca emphasized the importance of unity specifically.
“I come for the support. Not only for the dream but to make it a reality,” LaRocca said. “It is to create unity for different races and different religions. It’s very important for different classes of people to come together.”
Another Grand Junction resident, Ana Buick, said that coming together on this day is important due to how many people risked their lives for their freedom and equality.
“It is important to not forget and to keep up awareness,” Buick said. “I think when more people participate it keeps the dream alive.”
David Combs, a member of Colorado Mesa University’s (CMU) Cultural Advisory Committee began the event with a welcoming speech acknowledging the diversified outcome of the celebration.
Shortly after, Grand Junction Mayor Phyllis Norris gave her remarks, pointing out the variety of people who gathered to honor and bring awareness to the importance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
As people of all different backgrounds and ages gathered around, Combs handed out song lyrics to sing on their symbolic march to the Handy Chapel.
Combs said he believes every human has an agenda in life, and this day was to be peaceful with good intention. From there, the large crowd headed to the Handy Chapel to further honor King with a speech and song dedicated to this holiday.
Events followed at CMU’s campus later that day.
