On January 19, 2026, the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race marked a powerful milestone with its 25th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance, held at Columbia High School. Guided by the theme “Do Not Erase Our History,” the event brought together residents, students, clergy, artists, and elected officials for an afternoon of reflection, truth-telling, and recommitment to justice.

Opening remarks were offered by Barbara Velazquez and Mark Mucci, members of the Coalition’s MLK Committee. Velazquez noted the significance of 2026 as the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, reminding the audience that Dr. King viewed its promise of equality as a moral obligation still unfinished. Mucci added that history serves as a “tool kit” for measuring progress and imagining a better future.

The program featured an invocation by Rev. Robin Tanner, stirring musical performances by the Columbia High School Chorus, directed by Nicholas Diaz, and Special Dance Company, directed by Kayla Fleming, as well as reflections from community leaders. Maplewood Mayor Vic De Luca and South Orange Mayor Sheena Collum both spoke to the urgency of protecting democracy, history, and inclusion at this moment in our nation’s life.

Executive Director Nancy Gagnier underscored the theme, reminding the audience that when history is erased or distorted, justice becomes harder to achieve—and calling on the community to “speak up and show up, even when the work is challenged.”

The featured keynote speaker, Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Professor of African American Studies and Public Affairs at Princeton University, delivered a powerful address on the dangers of historical erasure and its direct connection to threats against democracy. He urged the audience to reject false narratives and embrace the responsibility of being truth tellers.

The observance concluded with a moving benediction by Rabbi Rachel Marder, followed by trustees, clergy, elected officials, and audience members linking arms to sing “We Shall Overcome.”

Following the program, attendees gathered in the cafeteria for a reception and to view the Durand-Hedden House & Garden exhibit, Slavery in New Jersey: A Troubled History, which explores the state’s legacy of enslavement from the 17th century through the Civil War.

SOMA Lights the Way

The day closed with the annual Luminary Lighting Project, founded in 2013 by Patricia Canning, as residents and businesses across South Orange and Maplewood illuminated their homes in solidarity with Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community. A community lighting around the South Orange pond, organized by the Meadowland Park Conservancy, provided a collective moment of reflection and hope.

For 25 years, the Dr. King Observance has been a cornerstone of civic life in SOMA. This year’s gathering reaffirmed that remembering our history—and refusing to erase it—is essential to building a more just and inclusive future.

Watch the full video here: