Benicia CA, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

VIDEO – The 2025 Benicia Martin Luther King Day Celebration

MLK Day in Benicia 2025

(See below for timing of detailed video highlights.)

Benicia’s 2025 MLK Day Celebration was held at
Community Congregational UCC on January 20.

Highlights of the celebration with links…

  • An MLK Poetry Collage voiced by 8 local and nearby poets (at minute 5:11);
  • The gathered community in song led by the Rev. Kim Kendrick (12:40 and 46:40);
  • Benicia’s engaging storyteller Linda Wright, portraying Coretta Scott King (15:41);
  • Brandon Green reading his stunningly poignant poem “Sometimes I Dream” (43:55);
  • Honored speakers
    • Benicia Unified School District Superintendent Damon Wright (51:42)
    • Benicia Mayor Steve Young (59:06).
  • We also heard from Patricia Schmidt Hunter, president of the Vallejo chapter of the NAACP (1:12:27),
  • And enjoyed a pickup choir singing Deborah Shanks’ new arrangement of Charles Albert Tinley’s song of courage and hope, “The Storm Is Passing Over” (1:21:50).
  • Benicia High School seniors Jaden Bleasdale and Vaughn McDevitt gave a generational voice to Dr. King’s words of challenge (1:25:49).

And in closing: Courage in Challenging Times, “We Shall Overcome”

  • It was notable that the 2025 national holiday honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fell on the same day as the U.S.’ 47th Presidential Inauguration. See introductory comments by the Rev. Dr. Mary Susan Gast at minute 48:31.
  • Many in attendance reported coming with strong emotions of fear and anxiety over the coming 4 years – and leaving with a renewed sense of community, solidarity and hope. The celebration closed with a forceful statement led by our host and event coordinator, Rev. Mary Susan Gast (1:28:47): “A simple but powerful phrase came into use in Brasil by those acting for the social good and opposing the Bolsonaro regime. En portugues: ninguém solta a mão de ninguém. ‘No one let go of anyone’s hand.’ An idea of solidarity, that we are committed to stick together, that, together, we shall overcome.”
  • On this note and to end our time together, we all joined hands and sang “We Shall Overcome” (1:30:16).

>> Announcement for the event, posted here on 16 Jan 2025:

BENICIA COMMUNITY
MLK DAY CELEBRATION

Monday, January 20, 2025
7 pm • 1305 West 2nd St.

Honoring Dr. King in story, recollection, song, and commitment. All are welcome.

“In these turbulent days, when fear and doubt are mounting high, give us broad visions, penetrating eyes and power of endurance.”

On Monday, January 20, 2025 Benicia’s 6th public observance of Martin Luther King Day will be held at 7 p.m. at Community Congregational UCC, 1305 West 2nd St. All who attend will be encouraged to reflect, sing together, and share their particular reasons for honoring Dr. King “in these turbulent days.” In this way we will sustain one another with the “power of endurance.”

Acclaimed storyteller Linda Youngblood Wright will portray Coretta Scott King, lifting up Dr. King’s insights into turbulent days and the ongoing struggle for justice. Local civic leaders, including Mayor Steve Young and Superintendent of Benicia Unified Schools, Dr. Damon Wright, will offer context and vision for the days ahead, along with Vallejo NAACP President Patricia Schmidt Hunter, Civil Rights attorney Brandon Greene, and others.

A pick-up choir will get together at 6 p.m. to rehearse “The Storm Is Passing Over” before singing it at the program. Email msgast45@gmail.com to request an advance copy of the music.

Flyer for the event (click to download):