It was nearly two years ago when the a group of civil rights advoates in Hanford launched a persistent campaign that eventually led to the city adoption of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as an official city holiday.

The momentum then led to a massive gathering MLK Day celebration last year, where some 400 locals of all colors marched together to commemorate King's life and celebrate the legacy of the late Civil Rights activist who was assassinated 40 years ago.

Monday, a call for freedom, justice and equality for all -- the message that King championed -- is expected to resonate in Hanford again.

For the second year, the Hanford branch of the NAACP will host a community-wide celebration to remember King's life with a march and choirs.

"Martin Luther King Jr. was a man who had the courage and conviction to go out there and put himself in harm's way to speak for racial equality and human dignity, not just for African-Americans but for everybody," said Stephen Tarr, spokesman for the local NAACP branch. "It took Martin Luther King to bring about changes in laws and social practices in our country."

Monday's celebration will begin with a march around the block surrounding the civic park in downtown Hanford at 10 a.m. An event will follow inside the Civic Auditorium.

Across the nation, the day is marked with demonstrations for peace, social justice and racial and class equality, the values for which King stood.

Hanford is doing its part to spead the message.

"It's great that Hanford is now doing what the rest of the country has been doing for a while," Tarr said. "The more people see what others are working hard toward racial equality, the better."

The event is the fruit of long-fought efforts by the community, members of the organizations say.

Until 2007, Hanford was the one of only two municipalities in the Valley, besides the city of Lindsay, which had resisted giving the day holiday status.

Last year, the city observed King Day for the first time. And the celebration by the NAACP marked the new beginning for Hanford's social justice awareness.

A keynote speaker at this year's event is Fresno City College Dean Jothany Blackwood.

Educated at Tennessee State University, Blackwood began her teaching career at Fisk University in Nashville as the director of the writing center and in English lecture.

Her career in education has brought her to the Central Valley. She was named the dean of Instruction of Fine, Performing & Communication Arts at Fresno City College last fall after stints at Fresno Pacific University and Reedley Community College. A renowned guest speaker at colleges, churches and conferences around the country, Blackwood has spoken in the areas of faith, diversity, literature as well as communication and writing.

How to attend

Second annual NAACP Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration

Jan. 21, 10 a.m.

Hanford Civic Park

Jothany Blackwood, Fresno City College dean

Information: (559) 585-0388

The reporter can be reached at 583-2429.

(Jan. 16, 2008)