Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's legacy during a pandemic Maine leaders give ways to celebrate and honor Dr. King’s contributions, as many events have been canceled or gone virtual this year. Author: Hannah Yechivi (NEWS CENTER Maine) Published: 8:06 PM EST January 17, 2021 Updated: 4:17 PM EST January 18, 2021 MAINE, USA — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights leader who fought for equality and human rights for African Americans in the '50s and '60s through peaceful protests. "King's primary message was love, 'Love thy neighbor as yourself,' the language he used was the language of brotherhood and sisterhood," says Tess Chakkalakal, American and African American literature professor at Bowdoin College.