Pueblo observes National MLK Day
By MARGARITO FUENTES
PUEBLO — About 400 people walked the mile from the Rawlings Library to the El Pueblo History Museum to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., Jan. 19, 2026.
Fifty-eight years ago, on April 4, 1968, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., was fatally shot at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn.
Participants in the walk were encouraged to sing civil rights and spiritual songs during the walk down Union Avenue. The famous “We Shall Overcome” was the first song that got the event started. Walkers could be heard singing along. The next song was the gospel song, “This Little Light of Mine,” and finally “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me “Round.”
The Pueblo Police Department provided visible security for the marchers.
The event, sponsored by the Pueblo NAACP, continued at the El Pueblo Museum to a packed audience. Southern Colorado Community Connections’ Jesse Sena was the Master of Ceremonies.
A member of The Pueblo Ministerial Fellowship started the event with a prayer and followed by a Land Acknowledgement by the El Pueblo History Museum Director Dianne Archuleta.
Singer Tate Kennece sang the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice”. NAACP President Roxana Mack welcomed the crowd.
Pueblo elected officials from City Council, Pueblo School District 60 School Board, and County Commissioners were on hand to lend their support. City Council Member Joe Latino read a proclamation honoring King and proclaimed that today, Jan. 19, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Pueblo, Colorado.
A choir, named A Family Reunion Choir, entertained the crowd with two songs: “We Shall Overcome” and “Come Jesus Come”.
The event continued with an interpretative dance by Permelia Jessie of the AFR Dance Team and the announcement of scholarships to five students by NAACP Education Chair Alysia Bellamy.
Connect Charter School Student Jamie Tripp-Arthur’s reading of King’s “I Have A Dream Speech” and was received with approval and loud applause.
Keynote Speaker Rico Munn was introduced by the Colorado State University Associated Student’s Government President Shaylan Wilson. Wilson reminded the audience that Munn is the interim president of CSU Pueblo.
We are in a time of stress and when we celebrate, the act of celebration reduces stress, Munn told the audience. “It is right and correct to celebrate Martin Luther King. Our history is a vision to our future”, said Munn.
Munn asked the audience to think about two historical images.
The first image is a black and white picture of King marching with Reverend Ralph David Abernathy from Selma to Montgomery Ala. on April 12, 1962. The photo shows King and Abernathy arm-in-arm. Munn reminded the audience that the weather in Alabama was hot and muggy, and King and Abernathy were dressed in jeans and regular shirts while the rest of the marchers were wearing their Sunday best. The march was held near Easter.
The reason King and Abernathy were wearing regular jeans and shirts was because that was how they dressed when they knew they would spend the night in jail.
The second image is a picture of six-year-old Ruby Bridges painted by Norman Rockwell. The picture depicts Bridges walking into the school in a white dress with U.S. Marshalls guarding her because of death threats.
Munn said that the picture is a symbol of success. Ruby Bridges went to school as part of the desegregation of public schools. She spent the time in school alone except for the teacher who agreed to teach her.
Munn that said Bridges’ act is one of success, and the picture by Rockwell is a picture of success.
Munn said, “Success is another chance to fight.” He said that success is another opportunity to move forward and to fight for yourself and your community. Munn concluded, “Each day is an opportunity to move the cause forward.”
The program also included news that El Pueblo History Museum would be hosting its newest exhibit called “Proclaiming Colorado’s Black History Pueblo,” The exhibit’s start date is Jan. 19, 2026, and runs until Juneteenth, June 19, 2026.
Denver Native and soul food scholar Adrian Miller provided the audience with a history on black food. Miller has written soul food books and black food traditions. He also wrote a book about black chefs in the White House.
MLK Jr., Holiday Commission President Ray Brown said it was Ruth Steele who led him to explore the history of the segregated units in the U.S. Military. Brown said that there are black soldiers buried at Roselawn cemetery, and their headstone contain the identification U.S. CI. Brown said it was Steele who told him the CI stood for Colored Infantry. Brown decided to do research on his own.
Colorado Black History Research Manager Chole Duplesis reminded the audience that stories matter. “If you have a story, share it,” said Duplesis. She said that we are extensions of MLK”s legacy. “We can be a change,” said Duplesis.