Montgomery County’s long-standing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Breakfast has been cancelled just days before it was set to take place, following a labor dispute at the event’s scheduled venue.
The event, organized by the Iota Upsilon Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., was planned for January 19, 2026, at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. The annual celebration, now in its 49th year, is one of the county’s most prominent tributes honoring Dr. King’s legacy and supporting student scholarships.
Organizers announced the cancellation after learning they would be required to cross a picket line at the hotel. Workers at the venue are represented by UNITE HERE Local 25 and are engaged in a dispute with hotel management over union representation and labor conditions.
After meeting with union leaders, the fraternity determined that proceeding with the event would conflict with the principles and values Dr. King stood for, particularly his advocacy for workers’ rights, dignity, and economic justice.
Event chair David Luckett said relocating the breakfast was not feasible due to the short timeframe and the challenge of securing an alternative venue capable of hosting between 450 and 600 attendees. The decision was made despite the significant planning and financial commitments already in place.
U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks had been scheduled as the keynote speaker and was notified of the cancellation.
Fraternity leaders acknowledged that cancelling the event would result in financial losses from non-refundable deposits and refunds. However, they emphasized that honoring Dr. King’s legacy outweighed the monetary impact.
Attendees who purchased tickets have been given the option to request a refund or donate their ticket cost to the organization’s scholarship fund. Organizers say they hope to return next year with the milestone 50th anniversary celebration.
