Take Action On MLK Day Of Service With A Bayside Park Clean-up

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — Northeast Queens residents can head to a nearby park on Monday to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. during the federal holiday-slash-day-of-service.

Queensborough Community College is organizing an afternoon clean-up at Alley Pond Park's one-mile Tulip Trail, starting at noon on Jan. 17 near Horatio Playground.

The event falls on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a holiday commemorating the civil right leader's legacy through service; the first and only federal holiday observed as a national day of service.

In addition to citywide park cleanups, a slate of organizations are organizing "no celebration" events, alluding to President Joe Biden's call for the U.S. government to either restore and expand voting rights in honor of King's legacy or skip the celebration of his namesake holiday.

At least 400 voter suppression bills were introduced during the first five months of 2021, according to a report by Insider citing data from the Voting Rights Lab.

The late civil rights activist's family called on President Joe Biden and U.S. senators to either restore and expand voting rights in honor of King's legacy or skip the celebration of his namesake holiday.

"Voting is an essential part of our democracy's infrastructure," said Arndrea Waters King, the wife of Martin Luther King III, the son of the slain civil rights leader. "We cannot afford for it to crumble any further," she added.

Learn more about how to take action in NYC in honor of MLK here.

Patch editor Matt Troutman contributed to this report.