PORTLAND, Maine — Hundreds are gathering at events in Maine to honor the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the slain civil rights leader.
The biggest event marking the Monday holiday is in Maine's largest city where an annual breakfast is hosted by the Portland chapter of the NAACP. Former Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts is keynote speaker at the event that's also marking the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1964.
Rachel Talbot Ross, Portland NAACP president, said Frank provides an important voice "at a time when many of the gains in our civil and human rights are under attack."
Republican Gov. Paul LePage, the former mayor of Waterville, is attending that city's Martin Luther King Day event, where a former NAACP national staff member is speaking.