Monday's Placer County Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and March in Rocklin is fifth annual

Civil rights leader and activist Martin Luther King Jr. would have been 94 years old Sunday if he was still living and not assassinated. Local residents plan to acknowledge the legacy he left behind at the fifth annual Placer County MLK Day celebration and march from 9 a.m to noon Monday at Rocklin's Johnson-Springview Park. Placer County MLK Day Celebration co-founder Twiana Armstrong said she helped start the annual celebration five years ago because of Placer County's lack of diversity and acknowledgment in regard to holidays and contributions of different ethnic groups. "I love where I live. I am here to make a difference," Armstrong said. "For those who truly want to build bridges and experience a full quality of life, join us. It's a time to come together and get to know your neighbor," Armstrong said. Her nonprofit organization that highlights the accomplishments of youth, Seemychid, hosts the MLK event. "Dr. King's message and legacy is all about coming together without prejudice and sharing our life experiences," Armstrong said. "It's important more than ever for everyone together because being divisive is taking a toll on our nation." Armstrong grew up in Texas and later moved to Santa Rosa where she "was immersed in the culture of celebrating people from various ethnic groups who made differences in American history." She moved to Rocklin in 2004. 'I want my children to also be exposed to that," Armstrong said. "It's a great opportunity to learn about Dr. King's role in civil rights and his dream of a world without prejudice. I wanted to be at the forefront of putting this together." Armstrong encourages Placer County residents to attend Monday's annual event. The fifth annual Martin Luther King celebration will start at 9 a.m. Monday at Rocklin's Johnson-Springview Park, 5480 Fifth St. It will include a march, kids' activities, poetry and poster contests with cash awards, information booths, and readings of Dr. King's speeches. There will also be music by DJ Madsticks, food trucks, and vendors. Vendors include SacVille Hot Chicken, Delicious Dishez Southern Cuisine and The Mini Donut Shack. This year's theme is a nod to Dr. King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" where the concepts of waiting and progress tangle with the values of truth, love and goodness, according to a recent press release. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested and jailed in Birmingham in 1963 for peacefully protesting the treatment of blacks in Alabama. From jail, King wrote a letter, known as the Letter from Birmingham Jail, to fellow clergy about the moral responsibility he said people had to break unjust laws and take direct action rather than waiting potentially forever for justice to come through the courts. The letter included King's famous words, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Monday's march will begin at the park by the pavilion. Spectators will march down Fifth Street, beginning at 9:30 a.m., go left on Farron Street, left on Pacific Street, left on Rocklin Road and back up Fifth Street to the park. The celebration is sponsored by Placer Community Foundation and Brett Coppola of Snowie King. Newcomers to the area appreciate the celebration. "The Placer County MLK Day celebration helps me to feel more comfortable and part of the community," said Bernadette Diehl, the event's communications volunteer. She moved from the Bay Area to Placer County in 2017. "I am a person of color raising children of color. In the wake of the pandemic and racial reckoning of the past few years," Diehl said, "I'm very excited to be a part of the march and teach my kids the legacy behind Martin Luther King Jr." Diel said the celebration teaches her children about the history of America while also promoting unity in every community.