M o s c o w – For the first time Evangelical Christians in Russia celebrated the US holiday in honour of Baptist civil rights activist Martin Luther King (1929-1968). The holiday, which was established in 1986, was celebrated on January 16 during a worship service of the Baptist-influenced Moscow City Church, with an attendance of 70, according to a report of the Russian Evangelical Alliance. Vitaliy Vlasenko, a Baptist pastor of the church, who is also Director of External Church Relations for the “Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists,” explained that many Russians believe that racism is a distant, foreign problem, having nothing to do with them. However, he said, that is not true. According to him, there is a latent racism present that must not be swept under the carpet. Engineer Daniel Ekat, who comes from Cameroun, reported that there are also racist attacks in Moscow. During his 10-years in Russia he has been beaten up twice. “My friends are often afraid of going out into the street. When a person covered with blood is brought into our dormitory, it leaves many of my friends aghast and uncertain as to whether they should continue their studies or return home immediately,” explained Ekat. “Russians think only hooligans are involved in such practices, but that is only part of the truth. We are beaten on by all those who regard us as dark-skinned monkeys.” American Methodist Matthew Laferty, who pastors a church in which many Africans gather, said, “My people are confronted daily with the problem of racism.” The City Church hopes that Martin Luther King Day will be established as a traditional annual holiday beyond their own church. The church is also considering establishing a Martin Luther King Award to be given yearly for service in the struggle for human rights.