Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Event

OAKLAND, CA — Friday January 13, from noon until sundown at the Oakland Federal Building, 1301 Clay Street, the Peoples NonViolent Response Coalition (PNVRC) will host a continuous public reading of Dr. Martin Luther King's 1967 speech, Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence, featuring local elected officials, community leaders, students, teachers, and members of the public. Beyond Vietnam, delivered at Riverside Church in New York City exactly one year before Dr. King's tragic assassination, was a decisive challenge to the Vietnam War that remains highly relevant. On the 77th anniversary of his birth, PNVRC honors the full legacy of Dr. King's work opposing militarism, racism, and poverty — the true "axis of evil" in the current struggle for peace and justice.

A 12 noon press conference, hosted by Keith Carson, Alameda County Board of Supervisors President, will highlight calls to end the U.S. war and occupation of Iraq, demand justice for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, honor Rosa Parks, and remember Tookie Williams. Featured speakers will include: Bobby Seale, founding Chairman of the Black Panther Party; Jane Bond Moore, law professor and long time civil rights activist; Walter Riley, civil rights attorney and Chairman of the Board of Vanguard Public Foundation; Kiilu Nyasha, revolutionary journalist; and Maudelle Shirek, former Berkeley City Council member (invited).

A"Photo Opportunity" with local elected officials will follow at 12:45 pm. Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker, Oakland City Council members Nancy Nadel and Desley Brooks, Berkeley City Council members Kriss Worthington, Linda Maio, and Max Anderson, and a representative from Congresswoman Barbara Lee's office are expected to participate.

At approximately 1 pm, the first reading of the speech will be lead off by press conference speakers and local elected officials. Community leaders including former Oakland City Council member Wilson Riles, John Bass of the Northern California Interreligious Conference, and Reverend Ama Zenya of Oakland's First Congregational Church will follow. Members of community groups, displaced Katrina survivors and high school students are invited to participate in subsequent readings of the speech, starting at approximately 2 pm and 3 pm.

At approximately 4 pm the readings will conclude with a sundown ceremony lead by Patricia St. Onge (Haudenosaune) of Bay Natives for Peace.

The Peoples NonViolent Response Coalition is a multi-issue coalition of groups and individuals who came together in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. This is their 4th annual public reading of Dr. King's speech.

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