For about three decades, the Eugene/Springfield NAACP and various community partners have been celebrating the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Local NAACP president Eric Richardson says 2018 marks fifty years since King was assassinated.
“This is a very important year to, as far as this community, come together and show its support for the kind of nation that we want and show support for the progress we’ve made over the last 50 years, understanding that we need to be vigilant because not everyone agrees with that progress,” he says.
This year, the city’s Human Rights Commission will be honoring Mo Young with Martin Luther King Jr. Community Leader Award. It recognizes someone whose work advances social and racial justice in Eugene.
Richardson says the event is a reminder of Martin Luther King Jr’s message, dignity and equality for all.