MLK - Page 2 of 2 - THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG.

Posted on January 12, 2018 January 12, 2018

President Donald J. Trump Proclaims January 15, 2018, as the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday

January 12, 2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

“The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., dedicated his life to a vision: that all Americans would live free from injustice and enjoy equal opportunity as children of God. His strong, peaceful, and lifelong crusade against segregation and discrimination brought our Nation closer to the founding ideals set forth in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Today, as we come together to honor Dr. King, we know that America is stronger, more just, and more free because of his life and work.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Dr. King, who was tragically assassinated on April 4, 1968. As we approach this solemn milestone, we acknowledge our Nation’s continuing debt to Dr. King’s legacy. Dr. King advocated for the world we still demand — where the sacred rights of all Americans are protected, rural and urban communities are prosperous from coast to coast, and our limits and our opportunities are defined not by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character. We remember the immense promise of liberty that lies at the foundation of our great Republic, the responsibility it demands from all of us who claim its benefits, and the many sacrifices of those who have come before us.

Too often, however, we have neglected these ideals, and injustice has seeped into our politics and our society. Dr. King’s peaceful crusade for justice and equality opened our Nation’s eyes to the humbling truth that we were very far from fulfilling our obligation to the promises set forth by our forebearers.

The Reverend’s devotion to fighting the injustice of segregation and discrimination ignited the American spirit of fraternity and reminded us of our higher purpose. Through his words and work, he compelled us to hold ourselves to standards of moral character and integrity that are worthy of our Nation and of our humanity.

Dr. King once said: “We refuse to believe there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this Nation.” We must work together to carry forward the American Dream, to ensure it is within reach not only for our children, but for future generations. As your President, I am committed to building and preserving a Nation where every American has opportunities to achieve a bright future. That is why we are expanding apprenticeship programs, preparing Americans for the jobs of our modernizing economy. We are also working every day to enhance access to capital and networks for minority and women entrepreneurs. With all we do, we aim to empower Americans to pursue their dreams.

Importantly, in paying tribute to Dr. King, we are reminded that the duty lies with each of us to fulfill the vision of his life’s work. Let us use our time, talents, and resources to give back to our communities and help those less fortunate than us. Particularly today, let us not forget Dr. King’s own tireless spirit and efforts, as we work, celebrate, and pray alongside people of all backgrounds. As one people, let us rediscover the bonds of love and loyalty that bring us together as Americans, and as people who share a common humanity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 15, 2018, as the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday. I encourage all Americans to observe this day with appropriate civic, community, and service programs and activities in honor of Dr. King’s life and legacy.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-second.”

DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,

January 12, 2018.

Posted on January 10, 2018 January 10, 2018

President Donald J. Trump Signs “Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park Act,”

January 10,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, On Monday, January 8, 2018, the President signed into law: H.R. 267, the “Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park Act,” which redesignates the Martin Luther King, Junior, National Historic Site in the State of Georgia as the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park.

The President also celebrated the fact that African American unemployment rate fell to 6.8%, the lowest rate in 45 years , the overall unemployment rate, which by October had dropped to 4.1 percent, represented a 17-year low . Trump touted that ,“The benefits of the low rates were felt broadly, resulting in unemployment rates for America’s veterans, African-Americans, and Hispanics that reached historic lows in 2017.”

Above President Donald J. Trump, with Alveda King, center, niece of slain Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and joined by Isaac Newton Farris Jr., left, nephew of Dr. King, and Bruce Levell of the National Diversity Coalition for Trump, right, signs the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park Act, Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, aboard Air Force One, in Atlanta, Ga. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

Posted on January 9, 2018 January 14, 2023

Ridgewood & Glen Rock Host 36th Annual Martin Luther King Observance – January 15th

January 9,2018

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood and Glen Rock Host 36th Annual Martin Luther King Day Observance is a Free Community Program will Feature The Rev. Dr. Calvin G. Sampson, Student Speakers and Outdoor March .The Rev. Dr. Calvin G. Sampson will deliver remarks addressing the theme “The Fierce Urgency of Now!” as The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee of Ridgewood and Glen Rock hosts its 36th annual celebration of Dr. King’s life and legacy.

The community is invited to attend this free event, which will take place on Monday, January 15, 2018 at the Ridgewood United Methodist Church, 100 Dayton St., in Ridgewood, New Jersey, starting at 10 a.m.

Rev. Sampson, pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in New York, will be the guest speaker during an interfaith worship service, which will be followed by a march through downtown Ridgewood and a light lunch. The program also will feature Ridgewood and Glen Rock student speakers and musical performances by the Indian Hills Chamber Choir, Men of Umoja chorus and The Young Voices of Mt. Bethel Baptist Church.

Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, Rev. Sampson has served as President of the Westchester County chapter of Operation PUSH, which was founded by Rev. Jesse Jackson in 1971 to improve the economic status of African Americans. Rev. Sampson also was chairman of the Westchester Church Community Campaign of the United Negro College Fund, and has been the host of the “Westchester Church News” radio broadcast on WVOX. He holds a Bachelors degree of Divinity and a Master of Divinity degree in Pastoral Counseling from New York Theological Seminary, and received the LLD (Doctor of Laws for pastoral work in the ministry) from Lynchburg College.
“During the past year, there has been a growing sense of urgency around our country’s continued struggle for racial and social justice,” said Alice Newton, committee co-chair. “In Dr. King’s words, ‘This is no time for apathy or complacency,’ and we welcome Rev. Sampson’s insights and inspiration at a time when deliberate and thoughtful action is needed to achieve progress.”

The annual Ridgewood/Glen Rock Martin Luther King Jr. celebration began in 1983 in an effort to unite area residents, regardless of faith or ethnic background, in worship and action as they work towards peace and justice for all. More than 20 religious groups, local government and civic organizations participate in and support the event each year. For more information contact Alice Newton at 201-951-9903; email MLKgrrwd@gmail.com; or follow Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee of Glen Rock/Ridgewood, N.J. on Facebook.

The committee also is co-sponsoring “Going Deeper: Exploring African-American Experiences, Challenges and Contributions in Ridgewood and Vicinity,” which will be held on Tuesday, January 16 at 7 p.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Ridgewood. The community is invited to join this important open dialogue led by Rev. Mack Brandon, Metropolitan AME Zion Church, and Rev. Lemuel Brown, Mt. Bethel Baptist Church. Rev. Dr. Ken Gill of Emmanuel Baptist Church will moderate the discussion, which will be preceded by a Community Pasta Dinner at 6 p.m. To reserve a seat at the dinner, please call 201-444-7300

Posted on January 17, 2017 January 14, 2023

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY OBSERVANCE IN RIDGEWOOD

photos by Boyd Loving

January 17,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, on January 16th, the Village of Ridgewood Observed Martin Luther King day . Mayor Susan Kundsen was joined by Ridgewood Police Chief Jacqueline Luthcke.

Noted Muslim scholar Imam Zaid Shakir will deliver remarks addressing the theme, “Together in Hope,” as The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee of Ridgewood and Glen Rock marks the 35th year of its annual celebration of Dr. King’s life and legacy.

The Ridgewood Police swept the area and security was tight. Resident Boyd Loving captured the well attended event with photos.

more photos https://www.facebook.com/theridgewoodblog/

Posted on January 17, 2017 January 14, 2023

MLK III: ‘Very constructive’ Trump meeting

Today our nation pauses to honor a legend, an icon, and an American hero. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lifted up the conscience of our nation — a towering leader in his day, and a lasting inspiration for all generations to follow.

Our Declaration declares that ‘all men are created equal,’ and Dr. King challenged our nation to live out that sacred truth: to banish the evils of bigotry, segregation and oppression from the institutions of society and the hearts of men.

His legacy of freedom is the true memorial to his life: no testimonial can pay better tribute than the faces of young children living out their dreams.

But his work is not done: all around us today we see communities and schools falling behind and not sharing in the prosperity of American life. Each of us has a solemn obligation to ensure that no American is left behind — and that all Americans are fully included in the American Dream. When young Americans of color are left on the sidelines, our nation is denied a lifetime of contributions to this society — and when any of our American brothers and sisters is forced to live in fear, or poverty, or violence, it is setback for the entire nation.

We rise and fall together, and today we pledge to follow in Dr. King’s footsteps so that all Americans may know the full blessings of this God-blessed land.

President Elect Donald Trump

BY MALLORY SHELBOURNE – 01/16/17 02:53 PM EST

Martin Luther King III said Monday — the federal holiday honoring his father — said he had a “very constructive” meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York.

But he declined to say whether he was offended by Trump’s weekend criticism of civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.).

“Well, first of all I think that in the heat of emotion a lot of things get said on both sides. And I think that at some point — I am, as John Lewis and many others, a bridge builder,” King told reporters in the lobby of Trump Tower.

“The goal is to bring America together and Americans. We are a great nation but we must become a greater nation. And what my father represented, my mother represented through her life, what I hope that I am trying to do is always bring people together.”

Trump criticized Lewis over the weekend, calling the congressman “all talk” and “no action” after Lewis said he did not view Trump as a “legitimate president.”

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/314476-mlk-iii-refuses-to-say-whether-trumps-criticism-of-lewis-offended-him

Posted on January 18, 2016 January 18, 2016

Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Jan. 18 Marks Federal Holiday Honoring Birthday of Late Civil Rights Leader

Rep. Scott Garrett , “Today we honor the memory and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His inspiring courage and commitment to what is right stands as a testament to the human spirit and its endless desire for freedom, equality, and fairness” and ” His tireless efforts to secure rights and freedom for all people in the United States are a testament to the power that a single individual can have in the course of history. May we all strive together to protect those same hard-won liberties today.”

The Baptist minister and activist was born in Atlanta on Jan. 15, 1929, and was assassinated on April 4, 1968. The third Monday in January was first celebrated as a national holiday in 1986.

10 Things You May Not Know About Martin Luther King Jr.

APRIL 4, 2013 By Christopher Klein

1. King’s birth name was Michael, not Martin.
The civil rights leader was born Michael King Jr. on January 15, 1929. In 1934, however, his father, a pastor at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, traveled to Germany and became inspired by the Protestant Reformation leader Martin Luther. As a result, King Sr. changed his own name as well as that of his 5-year-old son.

2. King entered college at the age of 15.
King was such a gifted student that he skipped grades nine and 12 before enrolling in 1944 at Morehouse College, the alma mater of his father and maternal grandfather. Although he was the son, grandson and great-grandson of Baptist ministers, King did not intend to follow the family vocation until Morehouse president Benjamin E. Mays, a noted theologian, convinced him otherwise. King was ordained before graduating college with a degree in sociology.

3. King received his doctorate in systematic theology.
After earning a divinity degree from Pennsylvania’s Crozer Theological Seminary, King attended graduate school at Boston University, where he received his Ph.D. degree in 1955. The title of his dissertation was “A Comparison of the Conceptions of God in the Thinking of Paul Tillich and Henry Nelson Wieman.”

4. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech was not his first at the Lincoln Memorial.
Six years before his iconic oration at the March on Washington, King was among the civil rights leaders who spoke in the shadow of the Great Emancipator during the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom on May 17, 1957. Before a crowd estimated at between 15,000 and 30,000, King delivered his first national address on the topic of voting rights. His speech, in which he urged America to “give us the ballot,” drew strong reviews and positioned him at the forefront of the civil rights leadership.

5. King was jailed 29 times.
According to the King Center, the civil rights leader went to jail nearly 30 times. He was arrested for acts of civil disobedience and on trumped-up charges, such as when he was jailed in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1956 for driving 30 miles per hour in a 25-mile-per-hour zone.

6. King narrowly escaped an assassination attempt a decade before his death.
On September 20, 1958, King was in Harlem signing copies of his new book, “Stride Toward Freedom,” in Blumstein’s department store when he was approached by Izola Ware Curry. The woman asked if he was Martin Luther King Jr. After he said yes, Curry said, “I’ve been looking for you for five years,” and she plunged a seven-inch letter opener into his chest. The tip of the blade came to rest alongside his aorta, and King underwent hours of delicate emergency surgery. Surgeons later told King that just one sneeze could have punctured the aorta and killed him. From his hospital bed where he convalesced for weeks, King issued a statement affirming his nonviolent principles and saying he felt no ill will toward his mentally ill attacker.

7. King’s last public speech foretold his death.
King had come to Memphis in April 1968 to support the strike of the city’s black garbage workers, and in a speech on the night before his assassination, he told an audience at Mason Temple Church: “Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now … I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. And I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”

8. Members of King’s family did not believe James Earl Ray acted alone.
Ray, a career criminal, pled guilty to King’s assassination but later recanted. King’s son Dexter met publicly with Ray in 1997 and argued for the case to be reopened. King’s widow, Coretta, believed the Mafia and local, state and federal government agencies were deeply involved in the murder. She praised the result of a 1999 civil trial in which a Memphis jury decided the assassination was the result of a conspiracy and that Ray was set up to take the blame. A U.S. Department of Justice investigation released in 2000 reported no evidence of a conspiracy.

https://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-martin-luther-king-jr

Posted on January 15, 2016 January 15, 2016

Ridgewood and Glen Rock hosts its 34th annual celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. King

MARTIN LUTHER KING CELEBRATION – JANUARY 18TH

January 15,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ , U.S. Senator Cory Booker will deliver remarks addressing the theme, “We Shall Not Be Silent,” as The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee of Ridgewood and Glen Rock hosts its 34th annual celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. King. The community is invited to attend this free program, which will take place on Monday, January 18 at the Ridgewood United Methodist Church, 100 Dayton St., in Ridgewood, New Jersey.

Senator Booker and The Rev. Joseph Ellwanger, Pastor Emeritus of Cross Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, will be guest speakers during an interfaith worship service beginning at 10 a.m. Rev. Ellwanger is best known as a civil rights activist who marched alongside Dr. King.

The morning service will be followed by an 11:30 a.m. outdoor rally, 12 p.m. community lunch, and 1 p.m. screening of the documentary I Shall Not be Silent. The film highlights the work of Rabbi Joachim Prinz, a key figure in the American civil rights movement.

The program will also include Ridgewood and Glen Rock student speakers and musical performances by the Indian Hills Chamber Choir and Men of Umoja chorus.

“We are thrilled that Senator Booker and Rev. Ellwanger will be joining us as we shine a light on the continuing struggle for racial justice in our country,” said committee co-chair Alice Newton. “Each of them embodies Dr. King’s legacy of not only speaking out for justice, but actively advocating for change. At a time when civil rights issues dominate the headlines – locally and nationally – we welcome their insights and inspiration.”

Rev. Ellwanger, a white pastor, led an African American congregation for nine years at St. Paul Lutheran in Birmingham, Alabama. He went on to serve as pastor of Cross Lutheran from 1967 to 2001. Rev. Ellwanger was active in the civil rights movement and shares his experiences in his book, Strength for the Struggle, copies of which will be available for purchase at the event. He was awarded the Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in 2008, and continues to work on projects involving social justice and other issues facing communities today.

I Shall Not Be Silentis an award-winning documentary of the life of Rabbi Joachim Prinz, who spoke out for justice from the synagogues of 1930’s Berlin to the 1963 March on Washington. Rabbi Prinz addressed the crowd just before Dr. King delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech, urging them to actively advocate for racial and social justice.

The annual Ridgewood/Glen Rock Martin Luther King Jr. celebration began in 1983 in an effort to unite area residents, regardless of faith or ethnic background, in worship and action as they work towards peace and justice for all. More than 20 religious groups, the Ridgewood and Glen Rock Boards of Education, local government, and civic organizations participate in and support the event each year. For more information contact Alice Newton at 201-951-9903 or Roann Rubin at 201-704-4650; email MLKgrrwd@gmail.com; or visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee of Glen Rock/Ridgewood, N.J. on Facebook.

Posted on January 19, 2015 January 14, 2023

Republicans Need to Stop Wasting MLK Day

10933805_10152992884207822_5113744142586083634_n

Muhammad Ali

“The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.”

Republicans Need to Stop Wasting MLK Day

January 19, 2015 5 Comments

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

If Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was alive and well today, Save Jerseyans?

I think he’d be impressed by how color blind my generation is; he’d also be disgusted by the Al Sharptons and Jesse Jacksons of the world and how they’ve profited while many of America’s black neighborhoods continued to suffer.

So we can honor Dr. King’s legacy through volunteer work, yes, but more importantly by rejecting race profiteers and voting for REAL change. Not the fluffy, fake Obama variety that comes prepackaged in a can.

“The time is always right to do what is right.” Amen!

Where to start?

Republicans can stop wasting MLK Day with platitudinal calls for “service” in our communities and utilize a unique opportunity to advocate for, again, REAL change. Like the implementation of school choice reforms. The inequality in our education system isn’t tied to funding, and it remains the last great civil rights hurdle facing America’s youth.

Why don’t more GOP’ers speak out? They don’t do it more often, I suspect, due to a lack of confidence. They’re gun shy after effectively getting hit with the race card for decades, but I believe it’s a needless fear because the country is changing.

We’re more color blind than ever. Barack Obama and his party’s economic job performance where black America is concerned is nevertheless nothing short of abysmal.

https://savejersey.com/2015/01/republican-mlk-day/

Dr. King said it best:

“Courage is an inner resolution to go forward despite obstacles;

Cowardice is submissive surrender to circumstances.

Courage breeds creativity; Cowardice represses fear and is mastered by it.

Cowardice asks the question, is it safe?

Expediency ask the question, is it politic?

Vanity asks the question, is it popular?

https://savejersey.com/2015/01/republican-mlk-day/

Posted on August 28, 2013 January 14, 2023

CARSON: MLK would be alarmed by black-on-black violence, lack of family values

CARSON: MLK would be alarmed by black-on-black violence, lack of family values
Ben S. Carson is professor emeritus of neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University.

It is hard to believe that 50 years have elapsed since the famous “I have a dream speech” of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the Mall in Washington. I was an 11-year-old child in Detroit languishing in the midst of poverty, but very interested in the strides that were being made in the civil rights movement.

I was the only black kid in my seventh-grade class and over the previous two years had risen from the bottom of the class to the top. My mother had forced us to read, which had a profound positive effect on both my brother Curtis and myself. I was quite optimistic that things were getting better for black people in America.

If King could be resurrected and see what was going on in America today, I suspect he would be extraordinarily pleased by many of the things he observed and disappointed by others. He, like almost everyone else, would be thrilled to know that there was a two-term black president of the United States of America and a black attorney general, as well as many other high government officials, business executives and university presidents.

Perhaps just as thrilling would be the sight of black doctors, lawyers, airline pilots, construction foremen, news anchors, school superintendents and almost any other position imaginable in America. The fact that seeing blacks in such positions no longer raises eyebrows is a testimony to the tremendous progress that has been made in America over the last 50 years.

Posted on January 13, 2012 January 14, 2023

SCHOOLS CLOSED ON MONDAY, JANUARY 16 FOR MLK DAY: COMMUNITY OBSERVANCE IS AT 10 A.M.

>SCHOOLS CLOSED ON MONDAY, JANUARY 16 FOR MLK DAY: COMMUNITY OBSERVANCE IS AT 10 A.M.

The Ridgewood Public Schools will be closed on Monday, January 16 in observance of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Ridgewood community will celebrate Dr. King’s birthday with an interfaith service at 10 a.m. at the Ridgewood United Methodist Church, 100 Dayton Street. This year’s theme is “The Power of One, the Strength of Many.”

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)