Local NAACP leader reflects on Dr. King’s legacy

It has been 55 years since Dr. Martin Luther King’s iconic “I have a dream” speech in Washington D.C., but his words live on across the country, including Santa Barbara County.

The Santa Maria/Lompoc chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People held a celebration Saturday afternoon, honoring Dr. King and his work towards creating a fair and just America for everyone. Lawanda Lyons-Pruitt is president of the chapter, and hopes the community uses the holiday the reflect on Dr. King’s message of equality and justice through non-violence and tolerance.

“We want to make sure everyone appreciates the sacrifices he made,” says Lyons-Pruitt. “Freedom isn’t free, and there is sacrifice that goes along with living in a free world.”

The local community leader also says after a 2016 that showcased just how divided our country remains, the words and message that Dr. King spoke of five decades ago remain as strong as ever.

“Remember that we’re in a land founded by immigrants,” she says. “And that we’re all human.”