MLK Now will feature Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ryan Coogler, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Common, Cicely Tyson, John David Washington, Jemele Hill and others. 

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ryan Coogler, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Common, Cicely Tyson, John David Washington, Jemele Hill and many more will come together for the fourth annual MLK Now event to celebrate and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

MLK Now, one of the largest MLK celebrations in the country, will again take place at the historic Riverside Church in Harlem, where Dr. King gave his famous speech, “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence,” in 1967. MLK Now is hosted by Blackout for Human Rights with Color of Change and Faith In Action serving as Presenting Sponsors.

MLK Now is centered around inspiring others to make a difference in their communities, reclaiming Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy from the sanitized version we see and hear today, motivating people to take action to build a brighter future rooted in justice, love, equality, compassion and kindness where we all have the opportunities, access and resources to not just survive but to thrive and using the power of art to spark dialogue around the issues that matter most. MLK Now is a chance to come together as a community to celebrate the visionary voices of past and present who reflect Dr. King’s visions for a better future.

This event will include live performances of historic letters by Actress and Cultural Icon Cicely Tyson, Grammy, Emmy and Academy Award-Winning Artist Common,Blackkklansman Actor John David Washington, If Beale Street Could Talk Actor Colman Domingo, and more; a special conversation with Award-Winning Journalist and Author Ta-Nehisi Coates and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; a panel on athletes and activism, moderated by Jemele Hill, Award-Winning Journalist at The Atlantic; a voting rights panel with President of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Desmond Meade; and live musical performances by Award-Winning Artists Raheem DeVaughn, V. Bozeman, Renee Neufville, K-Ci, Samora Pinderhughes and more.

For real-time updates and information, follow Blackout for Human Rights on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr and Facebook.

WHAT:            MLK Now

WHEN:            January 21, 2019

Pre-event media availability: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. EST Event: 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. EST

WHERE:          Riverside Church

490 Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10027

WHO:              Author Ta-Nehisi Coates, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Actress Cicely Tyson, Artist Common, Filmmaker Ryan Coogler, Activist Desmond Meade, Actor John David Washington, Journalist Jemele Hill, Actress Aisha Hinds, Musician Raheem DeVaughn, ActorColman Domingo, Activist Rashad Robinson, Activist Phillip Agnew, Gospel Artist Vashawn Mitchell, Musician Jabari Exum, Actor Leon, ActivistIdalin Bobe, Musician Samora Pinderhughes, Actor Jonathan Majors, Actor Dayo Okeniyi, NBA Alum Etan Thomas, Pastor Michael McBride, R&B Artist K-Ci, Musician V. Bozeman, Musician Renee Neufville and more.

About Blackout for Human Rights

Blackout for Human Rights is a collective of artists, activists, filmmakers, organizers, musicians, religious leaders and concerned citizens who commit their energy and resources to immediately address the staggering level of human rights violations and injustices against our fellow brothers and sisters throughout the United States. Blackout has hosted national protest actions, donation drives, and special events including #BlackoutBlackFriday, MLK Now, Blackout Festival, #JusticeForFlint and more. Founded in 2014 by a group of activists and artists, Blackout is comprised of both high visibility and everyday citizens including Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, Michael B. Jordan, Charles King, Jesse Williams, John Burris, Pastor Michael McBride, Scott Budnick, David Oyelowo, Will Packer, Marlon Wayans and more.

About Color of Change

Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by more than 1.4 million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. Our campaigns and initiatives win changes that matter. By designing strategies powerful enough to fight racism and injustice—in politics and culture, in the workplace and the economy, in criminal justice and community life, and wherever they exist—we are changing both the written and unwritten rules of society. We mobilize our members to end practices and systems that unfairly hold Black people back, and champion solutions that move us all forward. Until justice is real.

About Faith in Action

Faith in Action supports grassroots organizing which enables people of faith to build power to reshape their lives and their communities. Our network of organizations trains leaders and equips them with tools to fight racism and make society more equitable.