Yesterday, the city of Orlando held its 32nd annual parade in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Today, activists and community members are holding a vigil to remind the world that the work MLK set out to do is not finished. 

Organize Now! Racial Justice Committee, the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Florida, the Florida Institute for Reform and Empowerment and the Orlando Dream Defenders have scheduled a vigil tonight (Monday, Jan. 18) to call for racial justice in the criminal justice system and beyond. From the event’s Facebook page: 

Our demands: 

Freedom from mass incarceration and an end to the prison industrial complex

Police and policymaker support of the decriminalization of non-violent misdemeanor offenses

Full employment and a living wage for our communities

Decent housing fit for the shelter of human beings

An end to the school to prison pipeline and quality education for all

An end to the over policing and surveillance of our communities

De-militarization of local law enforcement across the country

Comprehensive review and publication of systemic abuses by our local police departments, and the development of best practices.

The vigil takes place from 6-7:30 p.m. outside the Orlando Police Department headquarters in downtown Orlando, 100 S. Hughey Ave.

If you plan to attend, the organizers ask that you RSVP at this link. 

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This article appears in Jan 13-19, 2016.