Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration in Grand Junction: An annual celebration, held at the Handy Chapel, which began as an hour-long event around 1982. The event was founded and is still run by the Black Citizens and Friends organization (BCF). The founders of BCF, young African-Americans like David Combs, wanted an event that would teach their children and community members about Black History. The event disappeared for a few years, but resumed and has been going strong for several years. The celebration now lasts for six days, with events in Grand Junction, Fruita, and Palisade. During the event, a local African-American person of importance is awarded the Harry Butler Community Service Award. Organizers also hold a commemorative march from the Handy Chapel to the county courthouse. The Grand Junction City Council, the Fruita trustees and the town of Palisade also proclaim recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Black Citizens and Friends participates in the Neighbors Read program at Mesa County Libraries in honor of Black History during the holiday, does a poetry reading at Lithic Bookstore, a poetry slam at Charlie Dwellington’s, and shows two movies at the Avalon Theater. They hold a non-denominational service on Sundays at the Handy Chapel, followed by a brunch at the Clifton Community Hall. On Monday, they hold the commemoration at city hall after the march. They also march from downtown to CMU, where a commemoration takes place on Monday.
