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Santa Fe County proclaims Martin Luther King Jr. Day and National Day of Racial Healing
Summary
The Santa Fe County Board unanimously approved a proclamation recognizing Monday, Jan. 19, 2026 as Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Tuesday, Jan. 20 as the National Day of Racial Healing, with community leaders urging county support for immigrant legal services and civic engagement.
Santa Fe County's Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a proclamation declaring Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, the National Day of Racial Healing.
The proclamation was introduced by Commissioner Lisa Kokari Stone and supported by community leaders who appeared at the dais, including Miles Tucanao of Quindigo Immigrant Justice (formerly New Mexico Dreamers Project), Cedric Page of the Santa Fe NAACP, and Little West, chair of the New Mexico Martin Luther King Jr. Commission. Commissioner Kokari Stone moved to adopt the proclamation; Commissioner Justin Green seconded the motion, and the board voted "Aye." Copies of the proclamation were presented to the guests and a group photo followed.
Miles Tucanao urged sustained county partnership with immigrant-serving organizations and said Quindigo currently carries "more than 15,000 open cases statewide," stressing that legal representation increases the likelihood that immigrants remain with family and avoid detention. "Legal representation is one of the strongest protections against racialized enforcement and unchecked government power," Tucanao said. Little West emphasized turning commemoration into action, noting Dream Week events across the state and encouraging residents to engage in civic and educational programming.
The text read into the record recounts King's role in advancing civil rights and frames racial healing as an ongoing process that requires institutional and community accountability. Commissioners framed the proclamation as both tribute and a call to continued action: several described MLK Day as a time to renew commitments to equity, nonviolence and de-escalation training for public servants.
The board did not attach new funding or specific implementation directives to the proclamation during the meeting. The immediate result was formal adoption of the proclamation and public recognition; staff indicated original copies would be provided to the guests.
