‘Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence 365’

   The theme for the 2025 Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday observance is: “Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence 365.” The King Center said the theme defines the 2025 King holiday observance events and programming while serving as a compass for all the work the organization does this upcoming calendar year and beyond.

   Established in 1968 by Mrs. Coretta Scott King, The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (“The King Center”) has been a global destination, resource center and community institution for over a quarter century. 

   “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed that nonviolence has the power to transform society by addressing injustice at its root,” said Maryland Senator Cory V. McCray. “The theme, ‘Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence 365,’ resonates deeply with our work in Maryland.”

   The Baltimore native represents District 45. 

   “Through the legislative process, we’ve worked to remove arbitrary barriers to opportunity and justice – restoring voting rights to over 40,000 Marylanders on parole and probation, raising the minimum wage to $15 to advance economic equity, and securing critical investments in public transportation through the Transportation Safety and Investment Act to connect children to schools, seniors to prescriptions, and working families to jobs,” said Senator McCray. “Every step forward honors Dr. King’s legacy by ensuring freedom, justice, and democracy are not just ideals but realities for all Marylanders.”

   A 501(c)3, The King Center says nearly a million people each year make a pilgrimage to the National Historic Site to learn, be inspired and pay their respects to Dr. King’s legacy. The Rev. Willie Ray, founder of the Save Another Youth, Inc. and Stop the Violence & Virus Coalition said he entered the ministry in 1968, inspired by Dr. King’s legacy. 

   “I support the theme,” said Rev. Ray. “It should definitely be looked at. I think that since we have had a homicide decrease in Baltimore, there should be an effort to attain the goal of going without having a homicide for 365 days. I do believe it’s possible. If you just believe, work at it, and have faith, anything is possible.”

   Rev. Ray founded “Hands Across Baltimore” to combat youth violence. The effort gained national attention along with his Stop The Violence rallies. Rev. Ray says his community efforts are being recognized with an honor he will receive on January 20, 2025 at New Shiloh Baptist Church. 

   “My work aligns with Dr. King’s principles of non-violence and youth advocacy,” said Rev. Ray.

   Dr. Joanne Martin, Co-founder of the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum (NGBIW) with her late husband, Dr. Elmer Martin talked about The King Center’s 2023 theme. 

   “We have to believe in and fight for this theme,” said Dr. Martin. “We can’t have a nation in which we don’t fight for Dr. King’s mission and values. He was a man of kindness, a man of wisdom, and a man who wanted and understood what was needed for a democracy to function. He understood that democracy has to function for all people. For Dr. King, there was no place in this nation for racism or hatred.”

   Located at 1601-1603 E. North Avenue, NGBIW is committed solely to the study and preservation of African American history, and its presentation of life-size, life-like wax figures highlight historical and contemporary personalities of African ancestry. 

   “Dr. King was a man of non-violence who sought to shine a light on what happens when we are violent,” said Dr. Martin. “He was a man whose eyes were wide open to the reality of this nation and this world. He contributed so much, and we all need to embrace what he stood for and his deeply-rooted values of non-violence. The world would be in a much better place.”