Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dedicated his life to building a stronger and fairer America, where prosperity was shared by all and discrimination was suffered by none. As union members, it is important to remember Dr. King's commitment to the labor movement, and the efforts of generations of workers to organize for the strength needed to achieve the American Dream.

To commemorate the civil rights leader's life and honor his legacy, SEIU Locals are organizing events on Monday, January 18th--the national holiday dedicated to the work Dr. King lived and died for: civil rights and social justice. Here are a few highlights:

CALIFORNIA
SEIU Local 721 African American, Asian Pacific Islander, Latino, Lavender and Native American Indian Caucuses will be participating in the Kingdom Day Parade in Los Angeles, CA on Monday, January 18. The televised parade begins at 10:15 am at Martin Luther King Blvd and Western Ave, ending with a festival at Leimert Park.

Leading up MLK Day, a commercial featuring several Local 721 healthcare workers will be airing on KABC-7. The commercial celebrates the legacy of Dr. King's dream by highlighting the reopening of Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital--a major victory for LA County hospital workers, the communities directly impacted by the loss of critical hospital services, and the working families of LA. Watch the commercial here:

In Fresno, SEIU Local 521 Afram, Apala, Latino and Women's Caucuses will march from St. John's Cathedral to the Veteran's Memorial Auditorium to commemorate Dr. King's legacy.

ILLINOIS
In Chicago, SEIU members will join African-American, Latino, labor, and faith communities attending an MLK Day rally in support of comprehensive immigration reform. Speakers will include SEIU Illinois Council president Tom Balanoff, U.S. Reps. Luis Gutierrez and Jan Schakowsky, as well as the Rev. Jesse Jackson. The event kicks off at 1:30 pm at the First Baptist Congregational Church, a site where King once preached.

TEXAS
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech to striking public service workers and their families the night before his brutal assassination in Memphis 42 years ago. Days before Dr. King was assassinated, he marched in support of sanitation workers' rights. On Monday, the Houston Organization of Public Employees (HOPE) will march alongside six solid waste trucks to demonstrate their commitment to continuing MLK's legacy. The march begins at 7:00am on Allen Parkway.

CONNECTICUT
CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 will join allies in the labor and social justice movement for Stamford's annual MLK Day celebration; the largest event of its type in the state of Connecticut. The march promises to be a great opportunity to come together to remember Dr. King and ensure that his struggle to achieve dignity and respect for all continues in 2010. Read more here.

If you're interested in volunteering and have the day off from work on Monday, find opportunities to do so through the MLK Day of Service here.