Inaugural Martyrs Day July 5 Celebrations Expand Nationwide with New Proclamations and Observances
S. E. Anderson
“Struggle is a never-ending process. Freedom is never really won.
You earn it and win it in every generation.”
--Mrs. Coretta Scott King
Date: Fri, Jun 26, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Subject: Inaugural Martyrs Day July 5 Celebrations Expand Nationwide with New Proclamations and Observances
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Inaugural Martyrs Day Celebrations Expand Nationwide with New Proclamations and Observances
New proclamations from Maryland Governor Wes Moore and other city and state officials reflect growing national recognition of the inaugural observance
(New York, NY - June 26, 2026) – In its inaugural year, Martyrs Day, a new national day of remembrance honoring American protesters and activists whose lives were lost in the ongoing struggle for civil rights, justice and equality in the United States, will be recognized nationwide on July 5, 2026.
Cities planning events on July 5th to commemorate the inaugural Martyrs Day include:
- New York City, New York
- Hyattsville, Maryland
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (virtual)
- Longmont, Colorado
- Los Angeles, California
- San Francisco, California
- South Orange, New Jersey
- Lewes, Delaware
- Kansas City, Missouri
In addition, the State of Tennessee will hold a statewide virtual observance recognizing Martyrs Day.
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, cities nationwide observe Martyrs Day, after Independence Day, in remembrance of the slain activists within this nation, and other slain Americans whose untimely deaths led to positive social change.
Momentum for the observance continues to grow across the country. The State of Maryland recently issued a proclamation signed by Gov. Wes Moore recognizing Martyrs Day, while Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Longmont, Colorado have also passed official proclamations recognizing the inaugural observance.
The Martyrs Day movement, founded and led by professor, author and legal historian Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, will host a national observance at the historic Riverside Church in New York City at 2 p.m. The event, titled "Martyrs, Memory, and Recommitment," will feature a panel discussion, ceremony, musical performances, book signings and reception. The program will be available both in person and via livestream.
"The response to the inaugural Martyrs Day has been inspiring. From houses of worship and community organizations to civic leaders and educators, people across the country are embracing the importance of remembering those who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for freedom, equality and justice,” said Browne-Marshall. “The growing number of observances demonstrates a shared commitment to preserving this history and passing these stories on to future generations."
At the historic John Brown Farm State Historic Site in Lake Placid, New York, participants will gather for two days to commemorate the abolitionist John Brown and those who lost their lives with him to reflect on the enduring legacy of the sacrifices made in pursuit of freedom and justice for the enslaved.
In Hyattsville, Maryland, Shattered Ceilings will host a gathering at Busboys and Poets at 5 p.m. focused on reflection, intentional dialogue and community engagement. The event will encourage participants to recommit collectively to the ongoing work of advocacy and social justice.
In San Francisco, nonprofit organization A Meal with Dignity and the San Francisco Organizing Committee will host a Martyrs Day observance honoring activists connected to the slain workers of the 1934 labor strike and the late Harvey Milk, California's first openly gay elected official.
In Los Angeles, community groups organized by the Martyrs Day Committee LA will gather at 11 a.m. Pacific Time for a Martyrs Day Livestream Viewing, bringing together residents from across the region to watch the national inaugural observance from New York City and reflect on the legacy of those who gave their lives in the struggle for justice and equality.
Philadelphia's observance, organized by the PhilaMontco Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) and 1838 Black Metropolis, will honor voting martyrs Octavius Catto, Jacob Gordon, Moses Wright, Levi Bolden and Isaac Chase who were killed during Philadelphia's Election Day Massacre of 1871. The event will include a voter registration drive, linking historical remembrance with civic participation.
In Pittsburgh, the Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Branch of ASALH, in partnership with the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society and the National Council of Negro Women Greater Pittsburgh Chapter, will host a virtual program titled "Our History Is the Future." The online event begins at 4 p.m. and will explore the significance of remembering those whose sacrifices shaped American history.
In South Orange, New Jersey, the South Orange-Vailsburg United Methodist Church will recognize Martyrs Day during its 10 a.m. worship service through prayer, reflection and a pastoral statement of support. The church will share information about Martyrs Day through its communications channels and social media platforms and is exploring a youth-led reading of martyrs' names as part of a commemorative presentation honoring those whose sacrifices advanced civil rights and social justice.
In Kansas City, Missouri, members of Neighbors Keeper Social Justice Ministry will gather at Friendship Baptist Church at 1 p.m. Central Time for a Martyrs Day Watch Event. Following worship services, attendees will view the livestream of the national observance from New York City and engage in discussions about the importance of remembering civil rights martyrs and continuing their work.
In Tennessee, the Tennessee State Conference of the NAACP will host a virtual statewide Martyrs Day observance at 5 p.m. Central Time. Participants from across the state will gather online to honor the lives of civil rights martyrs and recommit to the ongoing pursuit of justice, equality and civic engagement. Some of the panelists include Attorney Walter Bailey, who represented Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. while he was in Memphis, TN for the sanitation strike, and Emily Yellin, the co-author of “Nonviolent, A Memoir of Resistance, Agitation and Love” about the life of civil rights activist Rev. James Lawson.
In Lewes, Delaware, St. Peter's Episcopal Church will observe Martyrs Day during its 8 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. worship services. The observance will include a reading of the names of individuals recognized on the Martyrs Day memorial list, including voting rights activist Jonathan Myrick Daniels, who was gunned down in Selma.
Also in Lewes, the Cinema Art Theater will present a special screening of the 2022 biographical drama “Till” as part of the community's Martyrs Day observance. Following the film, Ronald Collins, author of “Tragedy on Trial: The Story of the Infamous Emmett Till Murder Trial” (2024), will join civil rights attorney Chanta Wilkinson for a discussion about the murder of Emmett Till, the historic trial that followed and its lasting impact on the Civil Rights Movement. Emmett Till is among the national martyrs recognized during the 2026 observance.
Cities, communities, faith-based institutions, artists, organizations and families nationwide are invited to host events honoring slain voting rights martyrs of any era whose sacrifices and contributions helped advance equality, social justice and civil rights.
“The growing number of proclamations and observances across the country sends a powerful message that the sacrifices of these martyrs will not be forgotten,” said Browne-Marshall. “When states, cities, organizations and communities come together to recognize Martyrs Day, they help preserve the stories of those who gave their lives in the pursuit of freedom, equality and justice. By remembering their sacrifices, we renew our responsibility to continue the work of building a more just and inclusive society.”
Learn more about Martyrs Day and upcoming events at www.MartyrsDay.us.
About Martyrs Day
Martyrs Day is a national day of remembrance celebrated annually on July 5 to honor the protesters who lost their lives in the ongoing struggle for justice and equality in the United States. Martyrs Day encourages education, historical memory and civic engagement to recognize activists, organizers and social justice leaders, from any era, whose work advanced equality, social justice and civil rights. Learn more about Martyrs Day at MartyrsDay.us.
About Gloria J. Browne-Marshall
Gloria J. Browne-Marshall is an EMMY Award-winning writer, social justice attorney, playwright, and Professor of Constitutional Law at John Jay College (CUNY). She is the author of many books, including the most recent “A Protest History of the United States” (Beacon). In Fall 2022, she was a Resident Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics and a Harvard Kennedy School Visiting Professor. She received the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award. Prior to academia, Browne-Marshall litigated civil rights cases. Learn more about Browne-Marshall at Browne-Marshall23.com.
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Founder, Martyrs Day July 5 www.MartyrsDay.us
Professor, Constitutional Law, John Jay College (CUNY)
Author, A Protest History of the United States
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Founder, Martyrs Day July 5 www.MartyrsDay.us
Professor, Constitutional Law, John Jay College (CUNY)
Author, A Protest History of the United States
