I'll be starting it as I always do for the last decade or two: with a rousing rally at the Chapel Hill Post Office Peace and Justice Plaza in an attempt to remember that Dr. King made an impact because he was ready to say unpleasant things and put his whole ife on the line for a vision of community that was fierce and just and a kind of love that was strong and scary. This year is my son's first MLK Day and he will be marching along Franklin Street with us.

It's great that people have started to see MLK Day as "a day on, not a day off," and there are also wonderful volunteer opportunities around the Triangle, some of which can be found at http://www.mlkday.gov.

So how are you spending your 2010 Martin Luther King Day?

[I read this entry by Chapel Hill Town Council Member Sally Greene on her blog and asked for permissionto cross-post it here. She graciously agreed. Tomorrow the Town will unveil the stone marker at Peace and Justice Plaza. =Ruby]

A little-known fact: grass used to grow around the flag pole in front of the old post office on Franklin Street. That's why those red brick pavers are there--as filler. It was only in latter times, probably since 1979 when the town purchased the property from the federal government, that the space was paved over.

Luckily for these four young men, it was grass during Holy Week in 1964 when they decided to fasten themselves to this place 24 hours a day, fasting in protest of the Town of Chapel Hill's refusal to pass a public accommodations ordinance.

Pat Cusick, LaVert Taylor, John Dunne, James Foushee (in the photo) and countless other activists will be remembered this Sunday at 3 p.m. as we unveil and formally dedicate the Peace and Justice tribute marker at the site we've named Peace and Justice Plaza.