MLK 2008 - Empowered by the Strength To Love

“Through nonviolent resistance we shall be able to oppose the unjust system and at the same time love the perpetrators of the system.”

These are the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Strength to Love, a compilation of his sermons that were preached during or after the bus protest in Montgomery, Alabama.  In his sermons, Dr. King calls on us to be nonconformists who stand up for what is right even if there are only a few of us standing up.  He calls on us to “…fight vigorously the evils of the world in a humble and loving spirit” and to be good neighbors to one another who recognize that we all as humans are brothers and sisters.  He calls on us to love our enemies and as he explains, “…we love the person who does an evil deed, although we hate the deed that he does.”

The theme of this year’s event is Empowered by the Strength to Love because it combines the numerous words of wisdom and calls to action in Dr. King’s book with the issue of our Civic Action Group’s (CAG) current campaign, which focuses on empowerment.  CAG is working on a campaign that will help them recognize as people dealing with poverty and homelessness that they certainly do have power and consequently that they have a responsibility to organize for more power that is shared with their community.


The MLK committee has been working hard to put this fun, inspiring event together and we are excited and thankful to be working with the First Unitarian Church and Portland’s Chapter of the Social Welfare Action Alliance (SWAA) on this event.  Here are the details:

On Monday January 21st, 2008 at 2pm people can begin gathering for the march at Sisters (133 NW 6th Ave).  There will be some snacks for people before the march.  At 3pm, the march will leave from Sisters and head toward First Unitarian Church (1011 SW 12th Ave).  If you don’t want to march, feel free to meet us over at First Unitarian around 3:30pm for a program featuring speakers including one of our very own Civic Action Group members, Nanci Luna Jimenez of Luna Jimenez Seminars & Associates, and Paul Boden from the Western Regional Advocacy Project.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Mary at 503-222-5694 ext. 17 or to see if there are any last minute opportunities.  See you there!


“He recognizes that social change will not come overnight, yet he works as though it is an imminent possibility.” – Dr. King