Hundreds Gather in Oxnard for 40th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day March

The streets of downtown Oxnard were filled with voices and banners on Monday, January 19, 2026, as Ventura County celebrated its 40th annual observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The signature Freedom March began at 8 a.m. at Plaza Park, where community members, spiritual leaders, and elected officials assembled for a morning prayer. The procession then moved through the heart of the city, concluding at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center (OPAC) for a formal program themed A Living Legacy: Cultivating Compassion and Justice in Ventura County.

A Diverse Coalition of Leadership

The march featured a broad coalition of local and state leaders who walked alongside students from 24 different high schools across Ventura and Los Angeles counties. Notable participants included 26th District Congresswoman Julia Brownley, State Senator Jacqui Irwin, and State Senate Majority Leader Monique Limon. Mayor Luis McArthur and several community activists also joined the front lines, carrying banners that echoed Dr. King’s calls for unity and economic justice.

Inside the auditorium at OPAC, the program began with spiritual musical selections from the MLK Celebration Choir, directed by Tamara Thomas. Youth speakers from local high schools, including April Marecheau and Jonathan Kelley, provided scripture readings and reflections on what Dr. King’s legacy means to a new generation. The event also featured a special presentation of the 20th Century Onyx Club 2026 Debutantes and Escorts, highlighting the academic and civic achievements of local African American youth.

Keynote Focus on Poverty and Democracy

The highlight of the morning was the keynote address delivered by Dr. Gaye Theresa Johnson, a prominent historian and the director of the Blum Center on Poverty, Inequality, and Democracy at UC Santa Barbara. Dr. Johnson spoke extensively on the history of the African American struggle for freedom and its intersection with contemporary struggles for housing and reproductive justice. She urged the audience to view Dr. King’s "Beloved Community" not just as a dream, but as a practical framework for addressing systemic inequality in the 21st century.

As the ceremony concluded, organizers noted that the event remains one of the largest and longest running MLK Day observances in the region. The committee emphasized that while the march happens once a year, the work of cultivating compassion must be a daily commitment. Following the main program, attendees were invited to a vendor exhibit in the Ventura Room, featuring local non profits and small businesses dedicated to community service and social advocacy.