Hudson County Community College to Hold Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Memorial
January 7, 2026
Event will feature Keynote Speaker Kevin Richardson of the Exonerated Five.
Kevin Richardson of the Exonerated Five will be the keynote speaker at Hudson County Community College’s Fourth Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. The January 29, 2026 event will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the HCCC Culinary Conference Center, 161 Newkirk Street in Jersey City, NJ.
January 7, 2026, Jersey City, NJ – While advocating economic and racial equity, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. declared, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” The civil rights icon was jailed 29 times for petty offenses. The late U.S. Representative John Lewis called it “good trouble,” highlighting a struggle he said may continue for lifetimes and generations. Dr. King’s vision underscores sharing human experiences and bridging divides. More than a half century after his assassination, Dr. King’s legacy continues to inspire.
Hudson County Community College (HCCC) will host its Fourth Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at the HCCC Culinary Conference Center, 161 Newkirk Street in Jersey City, NJ. HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber will provide welcoming remarks. The program will include:
- Introduction by Richard Walker, Associate Director for Institutional Engagement and Excellence;
- Poetry Reading by Victoria Lenga, HCCC student and member of the Student Literature Council;
- Invocation by Reverend Dr. Frances Snelling Teabout, Founder and Pastor of Open Door Worship Center in Jersey City, and HCCC Trustee;
- Remarks by Dr. Jerry Lamb, HCCC Criminal Justice Program Associate Professor;
- Introduction of Keynote Speaker, Fatima Eldei, HCCC Student and STEM Club President;
- Keynote Address by Kevin D. Richardson, Exonerated Five member and justice advocate; and,
- Closing Remarks by Yeurys Pujols, Vice President for Institutional Engagement and Excellence.
Kevin Richardson became a symbol of wrongful conviction in the 1989 Central Park jogger assault and rape case. He and four other Black and Hispanic teens were imprisoned based on coerced confessions following more than 24 hours without access to food, water, bathrooms, and legal counsel. In 2002, Matias Reyes confessed to the crimes, and DNA evidence confirmed his guilt. The Central Park Five became the Exonerated Five.
Mr. Richardson has since been a criminal justice reform advocate, raising awareness by partnering with the Innocence Project. He launched C.P.R. (Courage, Perseverance, and Resilience), a workshop to inform teens about handling police encounters and understanding their civil rights. Through the Kevin Richardson Foundation, he is committed to promoting social responsibility, criminal justice reform, and building transformative futures.
“Every year, we celebrate Dr. King’s accomplishments and reflect on the common thread that holds truth to power, in the past and present,” said HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber. “It requires dialogue, determination, and tenacity. We are proud to shine a light on the past and work to ensure we maintain our civil liberties with civility – in the courageous spirit of leaders like Dr. King.”