Brooklyn pays tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. with speeches, song and community service * Brooklyn Paper

"The celebration starts at 10:30 a.m. at the Howard Gilman Opera House and includes remarks by Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II - Dr. Cornel West once described Barber as "the closest person we have to Martin Luther King, Jr. in our midst"- and Citizens Youth Speaker Aponi Kafele, a current BAM Education participant in the Brooklyn Interns for Arts and Culture (BIAC) program and a senior at Essex Street Academy, whose voice reflects the next generation of visionary changemakers."

"On Jan. 19, BAM Rose Cinemas screens "Just Mercy," part of BAM Film 2026 . The film, which was directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, is based on lawyer and social justice activist Bryan Stevenson's memoir and his history-making battles for justice in Alabama, "Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption," telling the story of Walter McMillian, portrayed by Jamie Fox"

Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on Jan. 19 and honors the life, work, and vision of the civil rights leader. The Brooklyn Academy of Music in Fort Greene will host a 40th annual tribute beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Howard Gilman Opera House with remarks from Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II and youth speaker Aponi Kafele. The event will feature a solo performance of "Grace" by Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE, musical sets by The Fire Ensemble and the Brooklyn Music School, and family-friendly activities. The tribute is free with tickets distributed first-come, first-served at 8 a.m. BAM Rose Cinemas will screen Just Mercy, a film based on Bryan Stevenson's memoir about Walter McMillian.

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