The importance of nonviolent protest highlighted Monday’s annual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Colorado Springs.

The theme of this year’s event, presented by the Pikes Peak Diversity Council and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Preservation Society, was “mission possible,” stressing the importance of protecting freedom, justice, and democracy.

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Local events began with an “All Peoples Breakfast” at the Antlers Hotel with speakers from the African American Youth Leadership Conference board, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Preservation Society, and various musical performance selections.

King’s nephew Isaac Newton Farris Jr. was the keynote speaker. He began by reminiscing about his fond memories of his uncle often showing up late to family gatherings but always making everyone laugh. Farris also spoke about the values King instilled in him, such as the value of nonviolent protest.

Farris spoke of King’s work to make discrimination illegal, and about the difference between King’s vision of a “promise land” and his concept of a “beloved community.”

“Today is a day of freedom,” Farris said. “We’ve arrived at Martin Luther King’s promised land of equal rights and we can use that power to create his beloved community. The important question we all need to be asking today is how do we use the power of Dr. King’s promised land to get to Dr. King’s beloved community.”

Farris said the most powerful tools for Americans are the right to vote and the right to protest.

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“American democracy as the Founding Fathers envisioned it and as we know it today cannot survive without the right to protest,” Farris said. “The only way the right to protest can survive in the 21st century is that protesting be done in a nonviolent way.”

Farris said the nation can come together to use these tools to fight for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

“One of the reasons I chose to speak about protesting today is because I have a feeling America is entering a stage where there will be many protests over the next four years,” Farris said. “It’s a powerful tool.”

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Other speakers commented on the holiday falling on the same day as the presidential inauguration, and stressed the importance of unity in America.

“Now, perhaps more than ever, our world is divided politically and religiously,” AAYLC Board student speaker Olivia Agbo said. “(King’s) legacy reminds us there is power in action and non-violence is the answer.”

“Not red states, not blue states, but the United States,” MLK Legacy Preservation Society Vice President Earl Schaffer Jr. said.

Following the breakfast, there was a “Unity March” around the Antlers Hotel quad to honor King’s lasting legacy.

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Farris  then held a youth panel discussion in the afternoon at the Colorado Springs School in the Louisa Performing Arts Center located at 21 Broadmoor Ave.

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On Tuesday, Farris will lead another panel discussion at Pikes Peak State College from 4-5:30 p.m. at its Centennial campus, 5675 Academy Blvd.

On Wednesday from 3-5 p.m., Farris will open up his discussion to the community with a panel at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs Roaring Fork Hall, Kettle Creek Event Venue located at 4785 Stanton Road.

Admission is free to all events, but registration is required. Reserve your spot at mlklegacy.org/events.

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