BOISE, Idaho — This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press.
The state of Idaho will celebrate Idaho Human Rights/Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday with a formal ceremony at the state Capitol.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday that has been in existence since 1986, is recognized on the third Monday of January and honors the work King did as a civil rights activist in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. While Martin Luther King Jr. Day doesn’t always fall on King’s actual birthday, it does this year — Jan. 15. It would have been his 95th birthday.
In 1990, then-Idaho Gov. Cecil D. Andrus signed compromise legislation to make Idaho the 47th state to recognize King with a state holiday, according to the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights. It became known as Martin Luther King Jr. — Idaho Human Rights Day, the Wassmuth Center said on its website.
That turn of events comes full circle Monday with the state’s annual celebration on the second floor of the State Capitol Building Rotunda. It runs from from noon to 1 p.m. and the public is invited to attend.
According to a news release from the Idaho Department of Labor, Gov. Brad Little will join keynote speaker Rabbi Daniel Fink at the event.
According to the news release, Fink studied history, philosophy and rabbinic ordination at the University of Virginia and Hebrew Union College — Jewish Institute of Religion. In August 1994, he joined the Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel where he has since served as the synagogue’s full-time rabbi for 30 years.
Joining Fink and Little at the celebration will be the Oinkari Basque Dancers, Ballet Folklorico Mexico Lindo, the Boise Chinese Traditional Dance Group and the Boise State University Trumpet Studio under the direction of Derek Ganong.
Additionally, Serve Idaho staff and volunteers will also be in attendance, collecting personal hygiene and food items for the BSU Food Pantry and Boise Community Schools.
According to the news release, any of the following items are welcome and appreciated for collection: toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, body wash, and breakfast foods such as cereal, granola, oatmeal packs and breakfast bars.
Idaho Human Rights Administrator Ben Earwicker said the holiday is a time to focus on individual volunteerism and service.
“This event is a way to break down social and economic barriers, bring people together and work to improve the quality of life for all Idahoans,” Earwicker said in the release.
Here are a couple other events taking place in Boise to honor King’s legacy, as reported by the Boise Weekly:
Boise State University’s MLK Living Legacy Celebration
This year’s MLK Living Legacy Celebration at BSU starts with a poster-making and information fair from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Jordan Ballroom at Boise State. A “Rally to the Capitol” event takes place from 11 to 11:30 a.m., followed by speeches on the Capitol steps, according to an event flier on the Boise State website.
A keynote address with Eric Love, a former Boise State student and prominent civil rights activist and Director of Staff Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Notre Dame, will be at 6 p.m. in the Jordan Ballroom at BSU.
Volunteer at Boise Bicycle Project
The Boise Bicycle Project uses MLK Jr. Day as a time to wrap up any final work for the 2023 Holiday Kids Bike Giveaway and they could use your help. Every December, BBP gives away hundreds of “dream bikes” to kids in need, but each year there are 50 to 100 families unable to transport the bikes home. On MLK Jr. Day, BBP has a team of volunteers that get bikes to families affected by limited access to transportation. If you would like to help, you can learn more by going to the Volunteer Hub at boisebicycleproject.volunteerlocal.com.
Idaho Press Managing Editor Teddy Feinberg and Boise Weekly Reporter Kate Jacobson compiled this report.
This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press, read more on IdahoPress.com.
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