(Chelsea Update would like to thank Joanne Ladio for the information and photos in this story.)
Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy and spirit were celebrated in Chelsea On Jan. 20.
More than 200 luminaries were distributed and lit throughout Chelsea and the surrounding area, while more than 50 people came out to discuss community action with Jessica Ayoub from the American Civil Liberties Union.
In addition, seven area service organizations provided information and recruited volunteers at the accompanying Service Fair. Organizations included: Chelsea Zero Waste Coalition, Rotary, Faith-in-Action, Friends of Restorative Justice, One World One Family, Chelsea Pride and the Chelsea Human Rights Commission.
Ayoub is the grassroots organizer for the Michigan ACLU. She reviewed ACLU action and support of issues including voter’s rights and the criminal justice system.
The ACLU has a number of initiatives to help ensure that everyone has free and equal access to vote. There was a discussion of Michigan’s new no-reason absentee ballot and citizen programs to get out the vote.
The ACLU is also working to end racism in the criminal justice system. These efforts aim to ensure fairness in sentencing. Excessively harsh sentences are often unequally applied resulting in mass incarceration of minority populations.
