The Community Turns Out for Duluth MLK Day Despite Weather

DULUTH, Minn. — The Twin Ports celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. during the annual MLK rally at the DECC on Monday.

Hundreds of people gathered at the DECC to hear and learn about the work that Martin Luther King Jr. started decades ago.

The Duluth NAACP was the leading organizer of multiple events that took place, including a worship service, community breakfast and the rally, all honoring the legacy of the civil rights activist.

Although the annual march was cancelled because of the weather, lots of people still showed up for the rally.

“I feel like this community right here has one of the strongest spirits in the world, because it’s free, it’s loving, it’s accepting and it stands for something. And when the people in this community stand for something, they don’t sit down and that negative weather won’t sit them down at all,” said Tim Squallz with the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Planning Committee.

Not only does the rally celebrate what Martin Luther King Jr. started, but it also focuses on what work still needs to be done.

“What we are trying to do here is spreading love and not hate, bringing community together instead of dividing and we’re hoping that, that word is the loudest word you will hear today in the Northland,” said Pastor Jojo Coffin-Langdon, with the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Planning Committee.

People of all ages and races came together for rally which featured speeches from activists and performances from artists.