On Monday January 20, 2025, the Jonesboro community gathered in recognition and celebration of the39th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. The holiday was passed by Congress in 1983. The crowd gathered in honor of the many accomplishments by King that changed life for African Americans and people of color throughout the nation.

The theme of the program was “Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence.” A Parade of vehicles proceeded from the American Legion Hall to the Boyer Bell Association Center where the program was hosted. The Parade Grand Marshall was local retired educator Mr. Lee Edward (LE) Joe.
Attorney Zachary O. Simmons was the keynote speaker for this event.

Simmons is Lead Attorney for Pro Bono Programs for the Southeast Louisiana Legal Services in New Orleans, Louisiana. Most of his young life was spent growing up in Jonesboro. He graduated from Cedar Creek School in Ruston and enrolled at Xavier University of New Orleans and later Loyola University Law School.

The title of his message was “Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence. He captivated the audience with words that challenged that there is work to do as freedom for marginalized communities is not guaranteed but must be defended and expanded. He used the work of the Deacons for Defense and Justice started here in Jonesboro, Louisiana. He reminded the audience that the Deacons were a group of courageous men, leaders of the community who refused to sit idle as the KKK unleashed terror against African Americans.

“The Deacons armed themselves, not out of hatred, but out of love,” said Simmons. “Love for their families, their neighbors, and the principle that freedom must be defended. The Deacons exemplified what it means to defend freedom against all odds.”

Simmons also said that Dr. Kings North Star, the principle which guided his mission, was justice. He said “justice is not a static concept. It is alive and active, something we must work toward every day.”

He said that everyone has a role to play in creating justice. For some it may be fighting in courtrooms, marching in the streets, or advocating for policies to protect the vulnerable. He talked about Democracy being a dream under threat and indicated that democracy, like justice, is something we must continually nurture and defend. He said Dr. King believed in the transformative power of democracy. King knew that a true democracy is one where every voice matters and every vote counts.

Simmons reminded the audience that Dr. King once said, “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” He went on to say that “Democracy is that boat- it carries us all and we have a shared responsibility to ensure that it remains strong and steady, even in stormy seas.”

Simmons reminded us that in the face of today’s challenges, we must embrace the spirit of nonviolence for it is the path that leads not only to justice but to reconciliation. He reminded us that we are called to act out of hope, not out of fear.

“We are called to fight with love, not anger, to stand together knowing that the arc of the moral universe only bends toward justice when we are working together, pulling it with all our might. Simmons said that our courage, dedication and belief in the transformative power of nonviolence and working together can and will make the dream live on. He challenged us to fight for freedom in the words of author Toni Morison who reminds us that our freedom is bound to the freedom of others. Our words have the power to shape history, and democracy is only as strong as the communities that sustain it.”

A community choir provided renditions of spiritual songs and songs from the Civil Rights movement. Refreshments were served for all attendees.

The NAACP’s mission is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of all persons and to end race-based discrimination. The vision is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race. For more information on the NAACP, please contact Ms. Windy Callahan at 318-680-5511.