Baháʼí’s join the crowd for the March and presentation on January 19, 2026.

“Together We Are United” at the 2026 MLK Jr. March

by Marcia Veach, Eugene OR

Together… Together we will. Together we can. Together we are united.

This was the theme of the 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration and March organized by the Eugene-Springfield Branch of the NAACP.

Unity is a core teaching of the Bahá’í Faith:

“So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.” –Bahá’u’lláh

“Of the principles enshrined in these Tablets the most vital of them all is the principle of the oneness and wholeness of the human race, which may well be regarded as the hallmark of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation and the pivot of His teachings.” –Shoghi Effendi

“What a blessing that will be – when all shall come together, even as once separate torrents, rivers and streams, running brooks and single drops, when collected together in one place will form a mighty sea.” –ʻAbdu’l-Bahá

A long history of support for racial unity

Bahá’ís are committed to promoting the oneness of the human family. They have been supporters of the NAACP almost since its founding in 1909. While visiting the U.S. in 1912, ʻAbdu’l-Bahá, the son of the prophet-founder of the Bahá’í Faith, was invited to speak at the organization’s Fourth Annual Conference in Chicago. Among the nine members of the first nationally elected administrative body of the Bahá’ís in the U.S. were two women and a man of African descent. From the early days of the Bahá’í Faith in America, meetings were integrated. In some cities, such as Washington, D.C., Bahá’ís held Race Amity conferences as early as 1921.

In this context, it was part of a long-established tradition when the Bahá’ís championed the establishment of the federal Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, which was signed into law in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan. The day was established to commemorate Dr. King’s significant contributions to civil rights through nonviolent activism and his leadership in the movement to end racial segregation and promote equality for all Americans.

The local 2026 MLK Day March

This year, many members of the Eugene-Springfield Bahá’í community participated in the local MLK Jr. Celebration and March and contributed to the associated food drive. Bahá’ís also volunteered at The Shedd, where the March concluded, greeting the hundreds of participants who arrived for the formal program.

Building community throughout the year

In addition to supporting events that highlight the significant contributions of communities of color, Bahá’ís host neighborhood activities throughout the year. These gatherings bring together children, youth, and families for education and service that emphasize working together for the common good.

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