Norwich ―The Norwich NAACP will host events to honor Martin Luther King’s birthday with programs Friday at Norwich Free Academy and Monday in downtown Norwich.

The branch’s 38th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration Luncheon will be held at 12:30 p.m. Friday at NFA, and the annual march and church service program will begin at 1:15 p.m. Monday at the David Ruggles Freedom Courtyard at City Hall. Events on both days will carry the theme, “Champion Justice! Champion Peace! Champion Righteousness!”

The birthday luncheon Friday will be held at in the NFA cafeteria in the lower level of the Tirrell Building, 305 Broadway. Attorney Lonnie Braxton, II, retired Connecticut state prosecutor, will deliver the keynote speech. The 2023 Robertsine Duncan Memorial Award will be given to Robert D. Farwell, executive director of Otis Library in Norwich. The award is given each year to an individual or organization for outstanding efforts to ensure equality for children while being a community advocate.

The NAACP Norwich Branch Leadership and Advocacy Scholarship Awards will be presented to active members of the NAACP Robertsine Duncan Youth Council who emulate leadership, advocacy and impact for youth in the community.

On Monday, those participating in the freedom march will progress along downtown streets to the Evans Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, 2 McKinley Ave., where the service program will begin at 2 p.m.

A celebratory reflection will be delivered by The Reverend Paul Doyle, pastor of the Park Congregational Church in Norwich.

Monday’s march and program are free and open to the public.

For information about the events, go to www.naacpnorwichbranch.org or call (860) 886-1686.

c.bessette@theday.com