Trio of events planned during Monday’s holiday, including gathering on the Plaza
By Bert Etling, Ashland.news
A trio of Ashland events Monday, Jan. 17, will mark Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. With the pandemic yet to abate, the traditional large, indoor event at the Historic Ashland Armory won’t be held for the second year in a row.
Instead, there will be a socially distanced and masked gathering outdoors on the Ashland Plaza at 12:30 p.m., followed by the live premier of “Martin Luther King, Jr.: Our Voices” streaming on Facebook and RVTV online and via cable at 2 p.m. and a special screening of the movie “Selma” at 6:30 p.m. at the Varsity Theatre.
The hour-long celebration on the Plaza includes playing a recording of Dr. King giving his “I Have A Dream” speech.
The premier features youth of the Rogue Valley in conversation with community leaders.
AfroScoutz from the Black Alliance & Social Empowerment (BASE) program will explore issues identified by Dr. King in his book “Why We Can’t Wait,” including education, economics, civics, and policing.
“Together, the leaders of today and tomorrow discuss how we can apply Dr. King’s wisdom to current issues here in the Rogue Valley and beyond,” according to an event announcement by Southern Oregon MLK (somlk.org).
The program airs on Ashland Home Net channel 9, Charter Cable channel 180, online at rvtv.sou.edu, and on Facebook at facebook.com/SOMLKDay/.
“Selma,” a 2014 historical drama, is set during the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches. Tickets ($7.50 to $9.50) are available through the Varsity Theatre site accessible through catheatres.com.
There will not be a Ashland City Council study session on Monday due to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday.
Email Ashland.news editor Bert Etling at betling@ashland.news.
