Rainbow PUSH breakfast, other events scheduled in Chicago for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Monday is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the federal holiday commemorating the Civil Rights leader.

Events were planned throughout the Chicagoland area, honoring Dr. King's legacy, including the Rainbow PUSH Coalition's MLK Breakfast, which is part of the organization's 37th annual MLK Commemoration Weekend program.

This year, journalist Don Lemon headlined the event, and the Leo High School choir performed. The message at this year's event, "we need to stand up in the face of hate," as local leaders vowed to continue Dr. King's fight for rights. 

Speakers at the breakfast said King's legacy is more important now than ever. The question of where civil rights and civil service go from here? The answer, with the youth.

"Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, we are free at last," said 10-year-old Langston Miller, while speaking Dr. King's words on the podium.

"My favorite person in history is Martin Luther King Jr., so I repeated his words, and I just like him really much," he said.

He said it's important for his generation to know those words. He hopes to one day help the world just like King.

"If it wasn't for MLK, we wouldn't be here today," he said. "He's done a lot of work for this world to be equal."

Yusef Jackson, the youngest son of Rev. Jesse Jackson, who started Rainbow PUSH, said  young people are now being called to lead, to serve, and to keep the fight for justice moving forward

"I think you have to do the best you can to lay a foundation of service for children," he said. 

Something he's passing on to his kids.

"There are so many local ways to get involved and mobilize yourself, and it's not easy, but I will say there is high reward," said Skye Jackson.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson couldn't attend the event because of recent health issues, but his son said he's doing well.

"We saw him this morning, and he said hey you've gotta go and keep the movement going forward," Yudef said. 

Many of Chicago's Democratic leaders said this year "felt different" as they took to the podium to aim at President Donald Trump and ICE operations happening across the country.

"The time is right, right now to fight racism and bigotry in all its forms because there is no pride in prejudice," said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi.

"This is our moment to choose courage over comfort, to choose faith over fear," said Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) also slammed President Trump on his efforts to cut back funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP.  

"You've got a man in the White House today who thinks that it's okay to take SNAP benefits from hungry kids so he can build his Marie Antoinette ballroom. It is a shame. It is a stain on this country, and so we're going to fight back," she said.  

Organizers said Dr. King's message still demands courage, unity, and work, and that continues in Chicago. 

Eight people were also honored at the breakfast with the Trailblazing and Excellence Award for innovation, leadership, and impact in their fields.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, Comptroller Susana Mendoza, and Treasurer Michael Frerichs, U.S. Reps. Jonathan Jackson and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Illinois), Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch (D-Westchester), Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Mariyana Spyropoulos all took part in the breakfast at the Millennium Room in the Fairmont Hotel, 200 N. Columbus Dr.

Other Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day events held in the Chicago area

Later, Mayor Johnson also attended the City Year MLK Day of Service at Morgan Park High School, 1744 W. Pryor Ave., where hundreds of students and adult volunteers will work to clean, improve, and beautify the school.

Northwestern University has also launched a series of events to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On Sunday, dozens of people gathered on campus for a candlelight vigil.

The university has events scheduled all week, including a panel with keynote speakers on Tuesday at the Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall on the Evanston Campus. The events conclude with a public speaking competition on Friday.

In Chicago's south suburbs, the Village of Flossmoor is honoring Dr. King with its 11th annual day of service. From blood drives to thank-yous for veterans, there are plenty of ways to get involved.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, blood donations were accepted at the Irwin Community Center, at 18120 Highland Ave. in Homewood. Meanwhile, at Flossmoor Village Hall, people can build yard signs calling for peace, love, and community at the Flossmoor Village Hall from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monday.

Flossmoor is also looking for donations like food and hygiene products that can be dropped off at the village hall.

The City of Aurora is honoring Dr. King with a special ceremony on Monday at East Aurora High School, 500 Tomcat Ln.

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates will give the keynote speech. City officials said she embodies Dr. King's vision for economic and racial justice.

The ceremony will also include education workshops about Dr. King and musical performances from local artists. The Donna J. Williams MLK Service Awards will also be given out.

The event starts at 6 p.m.

In Chicago's Beverly neighborhood, more than 300 volunteers will clean up John H. Vanderpoel Elementary School, 9510 S. Prospect Ave., as part of the eight day of service put on by the community group ChiGivesBack.

The volunteers will organize classrooms, paint hallways, and complete mural projects. They will be working from 9 am. to 5 p.m.

At the Giving Factory, 2500 W. Bradley Pl., the nonprofit Cradles to Crayons is gathering volunteers Monday to sort through donations of coats, hats, boots, and warm layers for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The winter clothing will then go to people who need it.

This event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday. Organizers said 300 volunteers have registered for the event, which aims to collect 1,000 winter coats for local kids in need.

"In honor of Martin Luther King Day, and in his memory that everyone can serve, we open it up to the entire community – friends, family, corporations, community groups – to come and give back and spend some time with your fellow community members, and really feel good about what you're doing to help Chicago," said Cradles to Crayons executive director Dawn Melchiorre.

Volunteers will work on getting winter essentials organized, including coats, boots, hats, tons of warm layers, and completed winter outfits for local kids.

Once volunteers sort those items and place them in bags, organizations like the YMCA and Children's Place Association will work with Cradles 2 Crayons to receive the donations and provide them to their networks.

"It's something that we, I think, a lot of times, take for granted, that everyone will have the coat and the boots and the hat and the gloves, but we know that one in two children in the Chicagoland area suffer from poverty, and for a lot of those families, being able to buy everything they need is just without reach," Melchiorre said. "So our job here is to make sure that the community all comes together, and we get those clothing items so that kids can be healthy."Meanwhile, the Chicago Park District is hosting its first-ever Day of Racial Healing. There are two events — one for teens and one for families.

The events include workshops, cultural performances, and chances for the community to talk.

The event for teens is happening from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday at Maggie Daley Park, 337 E. Randolph Dr. The family event is happening Wednesday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Seward Park, 375 W. Elm St.