Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Lacey City Council proclaimed Monday, Jan. 19, as Martin Luther King Jr. Day in honor of the slain Black civil rights leader, who championed nonviolent resistance.
The city also marked its own historic milestone, as newly sworn in Deputy Mayor Malcolm Miller and Council member Maren Turner became the first two Black members to serve on the council together.
"Representation matters," said Mayor Andy Ryder at a city council meeting on Jan. 6. “To have the representation on our council, I believe, is extremely important."
Lacey has had Black representation on the council for more than 25 years, according to Ryder.
The mayor also credited Dr. Thelma Jackson, Vice Chair of the Lacey Commission on Equity, for helping build what he called an inclusive community.
"You're directly responsible for how this community has developed and welcomed everyone," Ryder told Jackson.
Jackson, a member of New Life Baptist Church, urged residents to treat the holiday as a call to action rather than a day of rest.
"This holiday, more than ever before in our history as a nation, it is a time to be a day on, not a day off," Jackson said. "He deserves to be respected and revered for his contributions to this country and the world."
King led the American civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968. He sought equality and human rights for African Americans, the economically disadvantaged and all victims of injustice through peaceful protests and boycotts.
"He was a doer under the most difficult of circumstances consisting of beatings, bombings, jailings and constant harassment," Jackson said. "He prevailed and was recognized worldwide as a transformative icon."
The Rev. David Reeves, of New Life Baptist Church, announced a countywide MLK Day celebration at 1 p.m. on Jan. 19, and also thanked the council for its continued recognition of the holiday.
"It's not lost on us, and certainly not lost on (us) as (it) relates to members in our community, how impactful and certainly how important it is for us to assemble on this particular day," Reeves said.
The proclamation acknowledged that inequities, injustices, racism and other forms of discrimination and oppression remain prevalent despite progress since the civil rights movement. It urged all community members to reflect on King's vision and rededicate themselves to the principles of justice and equity.
King's 1963 dream "is no less inspirational and important today than when he first expressed it over 60 years ago," the proclamation states.
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Snevets
Thank you.
Thursday, January 15 Report this
Southsoundguy
When liberalism is gone, this will be one of the first "holidays" to go with it.
Thursday, January 15 Report this
AugieH
Looks like most of the council members need to diet and exercise more all for the cause of Healthy Living Day.
Thursday, January 15 Report this
TeeMCee2
Its pathetic how some people and really I mean do mean ty people are sustained by their hate. Oh they try to disguise it but its very clear. Stop feeling threatened ever waking moment of your life...try it and you could be a better person.
Friday, January 16 Report this