Dueling breakfasts take place today in Jacksonville to honor the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Here are the details:
- The NAACP’s “official 36th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Virtual Community Empowerment Breakfast” will include speaker Aramis Ayala, the recent Democratic Florida attorney general candidate who battled with former Gov. Rick Scott over her anti-death penalty stance when she was a prosecutor.
- The city’s “36th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast” offers a speech by hospitality executive and author Simon T. Bailey at the Prime Osborn Convention Center.
Why two events? Jacksonville NAACP President Isaiah Rumlin says it happened after civil rights groups were no longer given a chance to be involved in the planning of the city’s MLK breakfast.
You can read Jacksonville Today's analysis of the situation here.
Several other events are planned in coming days:
- St. Augustine will have its annual silent marchon Monday, commemorating the marches that King led in the city during the 1960s. It starts at 86 MLK Ave., and participants are encouraged to arrive by 10:30 a.m.
- Also in St. Augustine: the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center will have a panel discussion on King’s legacy, focusing on ways to transform unjust systems. It starts at 1 p.m. Monday; admission is free.
- The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens’ celebration includes a prayer for peace at 2 p.m. from OneJax and University of North Florida students. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday.
- The Beaches celebration starts at 11 a.m. Saturday in Jax Beach at the SeaWalk Pavilion, 75 First St. N. Poetry readings, music, dancers and greetings from local leaders are part of the program.
- Green Cove Springs’ annual ceremony is set for 11 a.m. Monday at Vera Francis Hall Park, 1503 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
- First New Zion Missionary Baptist Church holds its annual MLK Celebration Service at 6 p.m. Sunday. The church is at 4835 Soutel Drive. Live stream it here.
- Jacksonville’s 42nd annual MLK Day parade begins at 10 a.m. Monday on Water Street near the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. The route proceeds to Laura and West Adams streets and finishes on Lee Street. More info here.
- Timucuan Parks Foundation and JaxParks are seeking volunteers to participate in an MLK Day of Service to clean up Blue Cypress Park. It’s from 9 a.m. to noon Monday at the park, 4012 University Blvd. N. More info here.