CSUMB joins Seaside and Peninsula communities to honor MLK

By Walter Ryce

Hundreds of people – community members and community leaders, walkers and rollers and bikers, from kids to elders – assembled at Broadway Avenue (aka Obama Way) and Noche Buena Street in Seaside to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday. 

They gathered to march across town, along closed-off streets, in a long procession on their way to a program of speakers, performers, community organizations and food at Oldemeyer Center. And a bright sun shone down on the celebration.  

The theme was “Mission Possible II: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Nonviolent Way.”

The event was co-sponsored by the city of Seaside and the Monterey County Black Caucus, which includes CSUMB’s community liaison for the Helen Rucker Center for Black Excellence, Da’ja Robinson. Other members of the CSUMB community also worked behind the scenes and joined the march. 

CSUMB President Vanya Quiñones was among the marchers. 

"Martin Luther King Jr. shared a timeless message that is still relevant as we come together and work toward equity, justice and honoring the humanity of each person we meet,” said Quiñones. “I always appreciate the opportunity to march with members of our Otter Raft and the Seaside and Monterey Peninsula community during the annual celebration of Dr. King because it reminds us that we can continue to make progress on his legacy when we combine our efforts, commitment and support."

Some marchers carried signs and banners, chanted or sang. Some danced. They came as individuals or as part of family and friend groups, or participating organizations like the League of Women Voters, NAACP Monterey County Branch, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Representatives of the Pan-Hellenic Council sororities – longtime organizers and participants of the MLK Day March, some of whom are represented at CSUMB – were in attendance. 

Longtime local resident Calvin “Blue” Wade, an alum of fraternity Omega Psi Phi – which counts march founders Delta Sigma Theta as a sister sorority – was jubilant. 

“I feel fantastic,” he said. “I’m 74 years old and I feel 18. I was up front in the parade with the color guard. I think the numbers [of marchers] are larger than the last two years.”

The traditional program at Oldemeyer Center included a remembrance ceremony by kids of the Village Project, remarks by Seaside mayor Ian Oglesby and Rep. Jimmy Panetta, a keynote talk by Dr. Debra Wilson, and presentations honoring departed educator and activist Helen Rucker.