Due to the spread of COVID-19 and severe weather, this past weekend’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations looked a bit different in Saratoga.

MLK Saratoga, Black Lives Matter Saratoga and C.R.E.A.T.E. Community Studios hosted a number of online events throughout the weekend. This includes a poetry slam and musical performances that were live streamed from Caffe Lena Sunday night. 

Other artists contributed various forms of art that celebrate Dr. King’s legacy and highlight the ongoing fight for equality. One of the celebration’s organizers says she views art as one of the most effective ways of standing up for change. 

“Having your voice heard is the most important part of protest. You don’t always have to be screaming on the streets, you don’t always have to be in the buildings doing civil disobedience, you can simply be voicing your concerns, you can simply be on a stage pouring your heart out,” said Saraoga Black Lives Matter Core Leader Samira Sangare.