What: MLK Sit-In at MLK, Jr. Blvd. in New Haven
Where: In grassy area across from the Sherman/Tyler Parking lot near Ella T. Grasso Blvd. in New Haven (signs will be present)
When: Sunday, July 23, 12pm-4:30pm
Why: The MLK Sit-in is a nationwide event observed on the streets named after Martin Luther King, Jr. to honor this brave civil rights activist and continue the fight against local, national, and international violence, hatred, and oppression against vulnerable communities, especially people of color, gender and sexual minorities, immigrants, and other persecuted groups. Our community recognizes that despite the huge wave of civil rights progress in our nation, we need to reinforce and celebrate our values of love, empathy, and solidarity in spite of our differences. New Haven has recently seen an unfortunate wave of hate-related incidents, and we're here to say that New Haven is an inclusive, creative, and welcoming place to live, work, and thrive.
How: The event organizers, local artist Tiffany Johnson and community social worker Alberto Cifuentes, Jr., will be providing a large canvas where attendees can write and/or draw their vision of racial and social justice. Participants will be given the opportunity to make posters and peacefully display them in the area. There will also be racial and social justice organizations tabling, face-painting and artistic activities for children, speakers, performers, and a community reading of an excerpt from Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech at 4pm nationwide.
Schedule:
• 12-2pm: Poster-making, art activities, tabling
• 2-4pm: Speakers, performers
• 4pm: Community Reading of excerpt from “I Have a Dream” speech
• 4:15pm: Wrap-up and Call for Action
Note: Because this is a free and family-friendly/all ages event, security/police will be present. Any use of violence, profanity, drugs, and/or alcohol will be strictly prohibited.
Questions: Please go to our event’s Facebook page, “MLK Sit-in at MLK, Jr Blvd in New Haven,” for periodic updates. You can also contact event organizers Tiffany Johnson at [email protected] and Alberto Cifuentes, Jr., at [email protected]
This community celebration of peace, justice, and solidarity will be both a sit-in and celebration of MLK, Jr.'s visionary message and legacy. This is an all ages, family friendly event that will feature speakers and community organizations. This event will be in the grassy area across from the Sherman/Tyler Parking lot near Grasso (signs will be present). More details will be released very soon!
This event is part of the National #MLKSitIn Day of Action,
a national gathering of everyday people in an occupational protest on every single street named for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in America on Sunday, July 23rd, 2017. Visit this page for updates and more information.
For more information about the nationwide movement, please go tohttp://www.mlksitin.com/.
#MLKSitIn New Haven is the chance to:
• Draw international attention to the systematic execution of Black Americans and the terrorism inflicted upon us by racist institutions.
• Celebrate the joy, love, and hope of our future in defiant acts of community and peace.
• Call everyone around the country to commit themselves in the fight to eradicate racism, sexism, queer/transphobia, xenophobia poverty, injustice, and all violations of civil and human rights and liberties.
We are a group of dedicated organizers taking part in a national act of peaceful RESISTANCE, an act of defiant JOY. This sit-in is on a street named after the man who gave his life to move us closer to freedom and liberation.
Join us on MLK, Jr. Blvd. in New Haven on July 23rd for this historic nationwide day of solidarity!
