Santa Monica, Calif., Jan. 19, 2026—Under the theme “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” the Santa Monica community gathered for the 41st Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration—a heartfelt morning of music, reflection and renewed determination to build a more just society.
Presented by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Westside Coalition, SGI-USA participated as a key partner and sponsor of the annual event, joining local organizations and faith communities in supporting a program that carried forward King’s spirit of nonviolence, dialogue and unity. The gathering reflected many of the same values SGI-USA advances through its efforts for peace, culture and education: respecting the dignity of every person and taking action to create positive change.
From the start, the tone felt warm and communal. Songs rooted in the civil rights movement filled the room, inviting everyone to sing along and remember the courage of those who came before. Interfaith prayers and short reflections emphasized compassion, shared responsibility and the power of ordinary people working together.
Students brought fresh energy to the celebration during the presentation of education awards, offering original essays, poetry and music inspired by King’s six principles of nonviolence.[1] Their words spoke of empathy, resilience and the determination to stand up for others in their daily lives.
Throughout the program, speakers encouraged participants not to see justice as a once-a-year observance but as something practiced every day—in neighborhoods, schools and families. Community service organizations were also recognized for their steady, behind-the-scenes efforts to support those most in need.
The keynote address by Emmy Award–winning producer and journalist Bonnie Boswell, a longtime SGI-USA member, highlighted the often unseen work that sustains social progress. Sharing lessons drawn from decades of storytelling and from the legacy of civil rights leaders in her own family—including her uncle Whitney Young, a trailblazer of the civil rights movement—she urged attendees to seek mentors, build bridges and commit themselves to long-term change.
The celebration closed with a tribute to civil rights pioneers and a collective singing of “We Shall Overcome,” voices rising together in a moment that felt both reflective and hopeful.
As a longtime supporter of the event, SGI-USA helped in anchoring the day’s efforts, reaffirming its commitment to working alongside the broader community to foster understanding, encourage youth and advance peace. Participants departed inspired not only to honor King’s legacy, but to live it—through unity, action and everyday acts of courage.
February 6, 2026 World Tribune, p. 4
References
- Martin Luther King Jr.’s Six Principles of Nonviolence, which guided his philosophy for social change, are information gathering, education, personal commitment, negotiation, direct action and reconciliation. (See https://thekingcenter.org/about-tkc/the-king-philosophy/ <accessed on Jan. 21, 2026>.) ↩︎
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