Massachusetts church that burned down in suspected hate crime reopens for MLK Jr. day

WBUR | By Here & Now Newsroom

Published January 19, 2026 at 11:59 AM EST

Five years ago, a predominantly Black church in Springfield, Massachusetts, named after Martin Luther King Jr., was burned down in a suspected hate crime.

This Jan. 19 will be the first Martin Luther King Jr. Day since the building reopened.

New England Public Media’s Karen Brown reports.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

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Massachusetts church that burned down in suspected hate crime reopens for MLK Jr. day

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Massachusetts church that burned down in suspected hate crime reopens for MLK Jr. day

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