Norwich — The Norwich branch of the NAACP will hold its two annual events to celebrate Martin Luther King's birthday and holiday with a luncheon and award presentation Friday at Norwich Free Academy and march and speaking program Monday in downtown Norwich.

Both will carry the theme “Not Without a Struggle.”

On Friday, the 12:30 p.m. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Luncheon at the NFA cafeteria will feature 2015 Martin Luther King Scholarship recipient and award-winning orator Diaj K. Toussaint, an NFA senior, as the keynote speaker.

A second NFA senior, Marvelous D. Guerrier, president of the Haitian and French Club, will be awarded the NAACP branch's Robertsine Duncan Youth Service Award.

Admission to the luncheon is a tax-deductable $30 donation for adults, $15 for students.

On Monday, the 31st annual Freedom March and Program will begin at 1:30 p.m. at City Hall, 100 Broadway.

After brief introductory remarks in City Hall plaza, participants will march through downtown to the Evans Memorial AME Zion Church at 2 McKinley Ave. for an indoor program beginning at 2 p.m.

The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Jeffrey T. Hill, pastor of Evans Memorial.