Left to right: Ian Arcela, Elmer Martinez and Armanda Romero–Campunur.

DURHAM – Over 40 years after being established as a national holiday, Americans young and old find Martin Luther King Jr. Day relevant to their lives.

Middle schoolers Ian Arcela (14), Elmer Martinez (13) and their friend Armanda Romero–Campunur (13) discussed the significance of King’s activism and the larger movement for social justice in their lives today.

“Back then, skin color was very different,” Martinez said. “It’s important to remember how bad it was.”

Beyond getting a long weekend, recent high-profile violence and controversy surrounding interactions between U.S. citizens and Immigration and Customs Enforcement were at the top of their minds.

“Back then, police would racially profile Black people a lot,” Arcela said. “I feel like that’s what ICE is doing to a lot to people that don’t look necessarily white.” He said the day is a reminder that “we have to remember not to go back to those dark times.”

Arcela said the protests against ICE showed a partnership and solidarity between the Latino community and the Black community. He said he took part in protests in October, when Customs and Border Patrol announced operations in North Carolina.

“A lot of African American people do support their close friends that are struggling with racial profiling,” he said. “You don’t just see Hispanic people standing up and speaking out, you see Asians, African Americans and everything.”

The three agreed that the skate park, located downtown adjacent Durham’s Central Park, is a welcoming and open space, one which a lot of young people don’t have. They periodically dapped up other skaters while speaking to The Tribune.

“I feel like the skate park is very open to everybody,” said Martinez, adding that he and his friends have taken King’s activism to heart.

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