[MUSIC]
FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PBS
WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.
[MUSIC]
>> I HAVE A DREAM.
THAT MY FOUR LITTLE CHILDREN
WILL ONE DAY LIVE IN A NATION
WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE JUDGED BY
COLO OF THEIR SKIN BUT CONTENT
OF THEIR CHARACTER.
I HAVE A DREAM TODAY
>> HELLO, I AM JONATHAN OVERBY.
WELCOME TO WISCONSIN'S 42ND
ANNUAL TRIBUTE AND CEREMONY,
HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING
JR.
COMING UP, HIGHLIGHTS FROM
TODAY'S EVENT RECORDED HERE IN
THE STATE CAPITOL ROTUNDA.
LET JUSTICE RULE.
IS THE THEME FOR TODAY'S
CELEBRATION.
GUEST SPEAKER, LAURIE A. CARTER
PRESIDENT OF APPLETON,
WISCONSIN'S LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY.
IN ADDITION WE'LL HAVE MUSIC TO
CELEBRATE KING'S LIFE AND WORDS
TO REFLECT ON HIS LEGACY.
I HOPE YOU ENJOY TODAY'S TRIBUTE
AND CEREMONY HONORING DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING JR.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU
TO THE
WELCOME TO
WISCONSIN'S 42ND ANNUAL TRIBUTE
AND CEREMONY HONORING THE
REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING,
JR. -
[APPLAUSE]
BEFORE WE GET STARTED.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK DR. OVERBY
AND ENTIRE 2023 MLK GROUP.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK TODAY'S
OUTSTANDING MUSIC PERFORMER IN
MAKES TODAY'S CEREMONY MEMORABLE
FOR FOLKS HERE TODAY AND THOSE
WATCHING ACROSS THE STATE.
AND AS A NATION'S OLDEST
OFFICIAL STATE CELEBRATION
HONORING DR. KING THIS IS ONE WE
ARE PROUD TO CONTINUE.
[APPLAUSE]
THE THEME OF THIS YEAR'S
CEREMONY LET JUSTICE RULE
REMINDS US OF DR. KING'S DREAM
AND VISION FOR OUR COUNTRY AND
ENCOURAGES US TO WORK TO BRIDGE
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL GAPS THAT
DIVIDE US ALL WHILE CONTINUING
OUR WORK TO OUR JUST FUTURE FOR
OUR STATE.
THERE IS
NO DENYING LAST FEW YEARS HAVE
BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF US.
WE RECOGNIZE MANY OF THE
INJUSTICES AND INEQUITIES DR.
KING WORKED TO ADDRESS
NEVERTHELESS REMAIN DEEPLY
ENTRENCHED IN OUR CURRENT
SOCIETY AND INSTITUTIONS.
BUT
JUST AS DR. KING FOUGHT
TIRELESSLY FOR JUSTICE,
INCLUSION AND EQUAL RIGHTS OF
ALL PEOPLE, TODAY WE AFFIRM
OURSELVES TO THAT COMMITMENT
BOTH AS INDIVIDUALS AND A STATE.
YOU KNOW
AS WE REFLECT ON DR. KING'S LIFE
AND LASTING LEGACY, REMEMBERED
THERE IS STILL SO MUCH WORK LEFT
TO BE DONE.
AS WISCONSINITES WE MUST WORK TO
BUILD THE FUTURE FOR OUR STATE,
MORE JUST, MORE EQUITABLE AND
MORE INCLUSIVE AND EVERY
WISCONSINITE AS RESOURCES,
SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES TO
SUCCEED.
ALL OF US COMMITTED TO THE
SHARED GOAL.
AND TO THE WORK AHEAD OF US
I BELIEVE THAT TOGETHER WE WILL.
WITH THAT, NOW IT IS MY DISTINCT
PLEASURE TO PRESENT A
PROCLAMATION AS MARTIN LUTHER
KING JR. DAY THROUGHOUT THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN AND HONORING.
DR. KING FOR HIS PROFOUND LEGACY
AND LASTING IMPACT THAT STILL
LIVES ON IN OUR STATE TODAY.
DR. OVERBY, IT IS YOURS.
[APPLAUSE]
[MUSIC]
>> WILL YOU TURN THE MUSIC UP?
YEAH.
TURN IT UP.
[MUSIC]
>> ALL RIGHT.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A GOOD OLD
HOUSE PARTY.
SETTING IS -- MORE FITTING FOR
DR. KING.
I WOULD LIKE TO PASS THIS TO
SOMEONE IN OUR AUDIENCE, OUR
CHAIR DR. EDWARDO EMMANUEL.
THIS IS THE PROCLAMATION.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL
FOR COMING OUT TODAY.
GIVE YOURSELF A HAND.
THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
[APPLAUSE]
SO SOMETHING WE DO EACH YEAR IN
THE SPIRIT OF GOOD COMMUNITY TO
STAND AND GREET EACH OTHER AND
SAY HELLO TO THE PERSON ACROSS
THE ISLE.
PERHAPS YOU COULD PLAN A GROUP
SLEEP OVER OR SOMETHING ALONG
THOSE LINES.
STAND AND SAY HELLO TO SOMEONE
NEXT TO YOU ACROSS THE ISLE IF
YOU WOULD, PLEASE.
TODAY, MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2023,
MARK A RETURN TO OUR IN-PERSON
CELEBRATION OF DR. KING HERE IN
THE ROTUNDA. WE
THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN GATHER
NOT ONLY TO CELEBRATE THE
BIRTHDAY OF REVEREND DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR IN WORDS AND
MUSIC, BUT TO ALSO AFFIRM OUR
COLLECTIVE AND INDIVIDUAL
COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE FOR ALL
AND NOT JUST SOME. IN THAT
SPACE, I INVITE YOU TO STAND AND
GREET YOUR NEIGHBOR ACROSS THE
ISLE.
ON THIS DAY WE CAN RECONNECT
WITH THE FULL BREATH OF JUSTICE,
AS MORE THAN JUST A MATTER
ASSIGNED TO LAW, BUT IS IN THE
SPIRIT OF "GOOD COMMUNITY", A
CHANCE TO DEMONSTRATE OUR
DEDICATION TO CARING ABOUT, AND
SERVING EACH OTHER, AS A WAY OF
LIFE.
LIFE. THIS IS I BELIEVE A
WORTHY STRUGGLE TO REDUCE THE
IMPACT OF THIS DISEASE THAT
CAUSES PEOPLE IN WORD AND DEED
TO DISRUPT THE VERY IDEA OF
UNITY, BY SOWING DISSENSION,
HATRED AND MARGINALIZATION OF
THOSE LOOK DIFFERENT, SPEAK
DIFFERENTLY, DRESS DIFFERENTLY,
HAIL FROM A SO-CALLED FOREIGN
LAND AS IMMIGRANTS, OR MERELY
BECAUSE THEY WANT TO LOVE WHO
THEY LOVE, WANT TO LIVE HOW THEY
WANT TO LIVE, AND WANT TO
CELEBRATE THEIR DREAMS NOT
TOMORROW OR SOMEWHERE DOWN THE
ROAD BUT NOW, TODAY.
LET THE EVIDENCE SHOW THAT WE,
THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN ACCEPT
THE CALL - THE CHALLENGE TO MAKE
OUR STATE A JUST AND WELCOMING
PLACE FOR ALL.
[APPLAUSE]
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, FOLKS,
BUT THIS COULDN'T BE THE EVENT
IT SHOULD BE WITHOUT SOME GOOD
GOSPEL MUSIC, DO YOU AGREE?
LITTLE TASTE OF SOMETHING, WE
HAVE MORE THAN A TASTE FOR YOU,
TODAY.
RETURNING TO WISCONSIN ONCE
AGAIN, HERE ARE THE BROWN
SISTERS OF CHICAGO.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WELL, DOCTOR, WOULD YOU MIND
IF WE PUT OUR HANDS TOGETHER ON
THIS SONG?
>> YES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
JESUS WILL.
IT IS ALL RIGHT TO GET UP ON
YOUR FEET.
[MUSIC]
[MUS
[MUSIC]
[APPLAUSE]
PAZ PAZ
>> THE BROWN SISTERS OF CHICAGO.
[APPLAUSE]
AS A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER CAROLA
A. GAINES WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
TO SPRING INTO ACTION WHEN THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC HIT. SHE
RECOGNIZED THAT COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR WERE BOTH THE HARDEST HIT
BY COVID AND THE MOST VACCINE
HESITANT.
SHE ORGANIZED TESTING AND
VACCINE SITES AT TRUSTED
COMMUNITY LOCATIONS-BLACK
CHURCHES, THE URBAN LEAGUE OF
GREATER MADISON, AT MUSIC
FESTIVALS...MANY MORE PEOPLE OF
COLOR AND THOSE WITH LIMITED
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE TO RECEIVE
MUCH NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION.
GAINES...MEMBER OF THE MADISON
ALUMNAE CHAPTER OF DELTA SIGMA
THETA SORORITY...RENDERS
COUNTLESS HOURS OF VOLUNTEER
SERVICE FOR THE THE DANE COUNTY
ASTHMA COALITION, COMMUNITY
HEALTH TASK FORCE, AFRICAN
AMERICAN HEALTH NETWORK, AND
MUCH MORE. HER MIDDLE INITIAL
"A" MIGHT MIGHT VERY WELL -
STAND FOR, A TRUE SERVANT OF
THE PEOPLE.
ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, I'M PLEASED
TO ANNOUNCE THAT CAROLA A.
GAINES IS A RECIPIENT OF THE
WISCONSIN 2023 MLK HERITAGE
AWARD.
[APPLAUSE]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> I AM IN AWE.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU
GOVERNOR EVERS AND YOUR STAFF.
DR. JONATHAN OVERBY AND SONG
PRODUCTION FOR THIS INCREDIBLE
UNIMAGINABLE HERITAGE
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD GIVEN TO ME.
DR. OVERBY YOU HAVE LET YOUR
VISION AND JUSTICE RULE FOR 42
YEARS.
WE STAND HERE TODAY, THE OLDEST
STATE IN AMERICA HAS CELEBRATED
AND PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE LATE
REVEREND, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING
JR.
DR. OVERBY!
DR. OVERBY TODAY,
WE STAND ON YOUR SHOULDERS OF
SERVICE.
[APPLAUSE]
I PRAY THE COMMUNITY IS PLEASED
WITH MY YEARS OF SERVICE.
I FEEL MY PURPOSE ON EARTH IS TO
BE A SERVANT LEADER.
AND I TRY EVERYDAY TO PERSEVERE,
TO BE DEDICATED, PASSIONATE, TO
UPLIFT OUR PEOPLE AND COMMITTED
TO BE A PART OF TRANSFORMATIONAL
CHANGE AS DR. KING WAS.
[APPLAUSE]
I MY DECEASED GRANDPARENTS MY
MOTHER TO MY HUSBAND, MY HUSBAND
DIDN'T EVEN KNOW.
THANK YOU, I AM SORRY.
[LAUGHTER]
TO MY CHILDREN, TO UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN WHO LET ME DO -- WHO I
SERVE TO MY FRIENDS, CHURCH
FAMILY TO MY PASTOR HERE,
REVEREND DR. MARCUS ALLEN.
THANK YOU.
AND LAST BUT NOT AT LEAST I
THANK GOD FOR CREATING ME TO BE
SERVANT FOR OTHERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOD BLESS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> I HAVE TO SAY YOU ARE WEARING
THOSE SNEAKERS.
GIVE HER ANOTHER ROUND OF
APPLAUSE, CAROLA
PETERSON-GAINES.
KALAANJALI INDIAN SCHOOL OF
DANCE & MUSIC, BASED IN MADISON,
IS DIRECTED BY MEENAKSHI
GA-NEY-SAN, HERE WITH A
PERFORMANCE OF, BA-RATA
NA-T'YAM, A CLASSICAL INDIAN
DANCE BASED UPON A POPULAR POEM
BY BHA-RA-THI-YAAR WHO WROTE
POEMS AND SONGS ON, WOMANIST
EMPOWERMENT, SPEAKING YOUR MIND,
CHASING YOUR DREAMS, AND
FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE.
WARM WELCOME TO THE KALAANJALI
INDIAN SCHOOL OF DANCE.
[APPLAUSE]
[MUSIC]...
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC] [APPLAUSE]
PARDEEP SINGH KALEKA'S ABILITY
TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE PROVED
USEFUL IN THE MILWAUKEE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, WHERE HE SERVED AS A
POLICE OFFICER FOR FOUR YEARS,
AND IN MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
WHERE HE TAUGHT AT-RISK YOUTH
FOR EIGHT. BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL
AUG. 5, 2012, WHEN A WHITE
SUPREMACIST ENTERED THE SIKH
TEMPLE OF WISCONSIN AND FATALLY
SHOT SIX MEMBERS, INCLUDING
KALEKA'S FATHER, THAT THE HE
DECIDED TO FOCUS HIS LIFE AROUND
BUILDING BRIDGES.
"IN THE HOURS FOLLOWING THE
SHOOTING, SO MANY DIFFERENT
PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES CAME
TOGETHER," RECALLS KALEKA...WITH
EMPATHY. IN THAT MOMENT, I FELT
I HAD A CHOICE. I CHOSE TO KEEP
PEOPLE TOGETHER AND HELP THEM
NAVIGATE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES,
CUSTOMS AND CULTURES."
TODAY KALEKA, AUTHOR OF "THE
GIFT OF OUR WOUNDS"...EXPLORES
THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS...
GIVES TALKS ON THE POWER OF
EMPATHY AND IS THE DIRECTOR OF
THE INTERFAITH CONFERENCE OF
GREATER MILWAUKEE...IN PART
BECAUSE FOR AMERICA TO FEEL
WELCOMING TO IMMIGRANTS, PEOPLE
NEED TO SEE THEMSELVES IN
HIS LIFE IS A
MIRROR OF THAT ADAGE.
ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, I'M PLEASED
TO ANNOUNCE THAT PARDEEP SINGH
KALEKA IS A RECIPIENT OF THE
WISCONSIN 2023 MLK HERITAGE
AWARD.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
MOMENTS LIKE THIS YOU JUST NEED
TO BREATHE IN.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
GREETINGS.
IF I DIDN'T USE YOUR GREETINGS,
GREETINGS ANY WAYS.
HAPPY CELEBRATION OF DR. KING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO DR. OVERBY
GOVERNOR EVERS.
ALL OF OUR ELECTED COMMITTEE,
EVERYONE GATHERED UP HERE AROUND
HERE.
AS I WAS THINKING OF WHAT
HAPPENED AUGUST 5TH, 2012, I
COULDN'T THINK OF WHAT HAPPENED
50 YEARS BEFORE THAT WHEN FOUR
LITTLE GIRLS ENDURED THE IMPACT
OF THE BOMB MELT FOR DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING JR. AND INSPIRED A
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
OUR TRAGEDY WAS THE DEADLIEST
STRATEGY COMMITTED BY WHITE
SUPREMACIST IN 50 YEARS SINCE
THAT BOMB.
WHAT WE HAD TO CHOOSE AT THAT
TIME WAS CHOICE TO LISTEN.
THIS IS FOR ALL OF US, WHEN I
THINK ABOUT THE LEGACY OF DR.
KING, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE
LEGACY OF ALL THOSE THAT LEFT US
AND HERE WE SIT DOWN TODAY, I
THINK ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO
LISTEN IS WHAT CONNECTS US ALL.
DR. KING, HIS LIFE, HIS LEGACY.
AS WE WERE KIND OF SITTING UP
HERE, WE WERE LISTENING TO
DIFFERENT BANDS FROM DIFFERENT
PLACES, THERE WAS A SPIRIT OF
CONNECTION AS ONE SAID OF
MUTUALITY.
I COULDN'T HELP, I SAID YOU KNOW
WHAT, WE NEED TO MAKE IT
INTENTIONAL.
DR. KING --
WE ARE NOT JUST HERE CELEBRATING
LEGACY OF A MAN.
WE ARE HERE CELEBRATING LEGACY
OF A GREAT SPIRIT.
THIS SPIRIT CONNECTS US ALL.
OUR HEART BEAT REMINDS US WE ARE
CONNECTED TO THE SPIRIT.
SOME OF US CAN DANCE, SOME OF US
CAN'T.
SO AS -- JUST KIDDING.
AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THAT,
YOU CAN SEE WHO HAS TO LISTEN TO
THAT SPIRIT.
SOMETIME THAT SPIRIT WHISPERS,
SOMETIMES TALKS TO US.
SOMETIMES THAT SPIRIT SCREAMS AT
US.
TO SOME OF US, THAT SPIRIT IS
SCREAMING.
AND IT DOESN'T TAKE SOMETHING
LIKE AUGUST 5TH TO HAPPEN.
SO AS WE GO FORWARD, GO ON TO
THE GREAT SPIRIT OF LISTENING TO
THAT SPIRIT AS IF THAT SPIRIT IS
SCREAMING AT YOU.
LET'S ALL COMMIT TO THE LIFE,
THE LEGACY AND COMMIT TO THE
JUSTICE TOGETHER, THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
OUR GUEST SPEAKER TODAY LAURIE
A. CARTER.
LAURIE A. CARTER JOINED THE
LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY AS
ITS 17TH PRESIDENT ON JULY 1,
2021, BRINGING WITH HER A VISION
THAT INCLUDES IMPLEMENTING
STUDENT-CENTERED GUIDING
COALITIONS TO FACILITATE MORE
EFFECTIVE CHANGE IMPLEMENTATION
AT THE UNIVERSITY.
IN HER BRIEF TIME AS PRESIDENT,
CARTER HAS IDENTIFIED FOCUSED
INVESTMENT PRIORITIES THROUGH
COMMUNITY-WIDE ENGAGEMENT THAT
WILL POSITION LAWRENCE TO
ANTICIPATE AND MEET THE
CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WONDERFUL TO BE A PART OF
THIS GREAT STATE, THANK YOU.
TO GOVERNOR EVERS, FIRST LADY
EVERS, REPRESENTATIVE STUBS,
PROMO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND
LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY TRUSTEE
BARBARA LAWTON AND LAWRENCE
UNIVERSITY VICE CHAIR SARA, THE
PLATFORM PARTY ALL ASSEMBLED
HERE AND ACROSS THE GREAT STATE
OF WISCONSIN GOOD AFTERNOON.
AND HAPPY REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER
KING JR. DAY.
[APPLAUSE]
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU DR.
OVERBY AND PBS FOR BEING ABLE TO
SHARE THIS YEAR'S THEME LET
JUSTICE RULE.
AS AN ATTORNEY MYSELF, AND WIFE
TO A RETIRED POLICE DETECTIVE
WHO SPENT HIS CAREER WORKING IN
A PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, I HAVE AN
INTIMATE UNDERSTANDING AND
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON JUSTICE
AND HOW IT RULES.
THIS PERSPECTIVE BEGAN LONG
BEFORE I ATTENDED LAW SCHOOL.
GROWING UP IN AN INTEGRATED TOWN
IN NORTHERN NEW JERSEY, I
VIVIDLY REMEMBER WHEN DR. KING
ASSASSINATED.
I WAS A CHILD AT THE TIME AND
COULDN'T GRASP WHY SOMEONE WOULD
KILL A MINISTER.
MY GRANDFATHER WAS A MINISTER.
LIKE DR. KING, HE DEDICATED HIS
LIFE TO THE SERVICE OF GOD AND
ELEVATING BLACK PEOPLE.
SO AT AN EARLY AGE I LEARNED
ABOUT THE WORK OF DR. KING AND
THE INJUSTICE THAT WAS VISITED
ON BLACKS IN AMERICA.
WHEN I WAS 16, MY MATERNAL
GRANDPARENTS TOOK ME WITH THEM
ON A TRIP TO MACON, GEORGIA, MY
GRANDFATHER'S BIRTHPLACE.
WE VISIT TODAY FARM, WHERE HIS
FATHER A SHARECROPPER TENDED
LAND.
WE VISITED THE THREE-ROOM
SHOTGUN HOUSE WHERE HE LIVED AS
A CHILD BEFORE THE FAMILY
MIGRATED TO NEW JERSEY.
THIS EXPERIENCE WAS THE FIRST
AND ONLY TIME MY GRANDFATHER
SHARED STORIES GROWING UP IN THE
SOUTH.
IT WAS CHILLING TO HEAR THAT HE
HAD LIVED THROUGH SUCH DIFFICULT
TIMES.
AND THAT TRIP CHANGED ME.
I WAS THE ONLY ONE OF 15
GRANDCHILDREN ON THAT TRIP.
IT WAS A PRIVILEGE TO SPEND THAT
SACRED TIME WITH MY
GRANDPARENTS.
THE EXPERIENCE INSTILLED IN ME,
A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT I
DIDN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND AT THE
TIME BUT I RETURNED HOME WITH A
PURPOSE TO LIVE A LIFE THAT
HONORED THE SACRIFICES THAT MY
ELDERS MADE.
I COULD PURSUE A LIFE OF JUSTICE
AS THEY AND OTHERS FOUGHT FOR ME
TO HAVE.
WHEN DR. OVERBY CALLED TO INVITE
ME TO ADDRESS YOU, I WAS
IMMEDIATELY TRANSPORTED BACK TO
MY TIME AT THE JULIE ARTS
SCHOOL, FOR 25 YEARS I HAD THE
PRIVILEGE OF PRODUCING ANNUAL
CELEBRATION OF LIFE AND WORK OF
DR. KING.
I WAS BLESSED TO WORK WITH
ACTORS LIKE VIOLA DAVIS, DANIEL
BROOKS AND ANTHONY MACKY.
DANCERS ROBERT BATTLE.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE DANCE
COMPANY AND MUSICIANS LIKE
JONATHAN BATIST.
IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO THAT
ANNUAL PRODUCTION, EVERY YEAR I
SPENT TIME WITH STUDENTS READING
EXCERPTS TALKING ABOUT THE LIFE
AND WORK OF DR. KING.
IT WAS IMPORTANT THIS WAS NOT
JUST ANOTHER JULIE ART
PERFORMANCE.
IT WAS VITAL THAT WE CAPTURED
THE SPIRIT OF SACRIFICE,
PERSEVERANCE AND LOVE OF DR.
KING'S WORK.
AND THE QUESTION WHAT IS JUSTICE
WITHOUT LOVE?
DR. KING SAID POWER AT ITS BEST
IS LOVE IMPLEMENTING DEMANDS OF
JUSTICE.
JUSTICE AT ITS BEST IS POWER
CORRECTING EVERYTHING THAT
STANDS AGAINST LOVE.
AT JULIE ART, I FOUND THIS POWER
OF LOVE SUPPORTING STUDENTS
THROUGH THEIR INDIVIDUAL
EDUCATIONAL JOURNEYS.
AFTER ALL, HIGHER EDUCATION HAD
TRANSFORMED MY LIFE.
AS A FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE
STUDENT, I WATCHED BOTH OF MY
PARENTS OBTAIN HIGHER DEGREES OF
EDUCATION AFTER RAISING THEIR
FAMILY.
DR. KING TAUGHT US ROAD TO
JUSTICE IS NOT A STRAIGHT PATH.
MY OWN JOURNEY GUIDED ME TO
BELIEVE EDUCATION IS A PATH TO
JUSTICE, UNANTICIPATED TWISTS OF
FATES AND UNKNOWNS.
IT WAS ALSO AT JULIE ART I MET
MY HUSBAND AND GAVE BIRTH TO A
BEAUTIFUL BROWN BABY BOY.
WE LIVED IN A COMMUNITY TOUTED
AS WONDERFULLY DIVERSE.
BUT AS SEGREGATED AS THE SOUTH
WHEN MY HUSBAND AND PARENTS GREW
UP THERE 20 MILES FROM MY OWN
HOME.
AND VISTAGES OF THAT SEGREGATION
LINGERED.
WHEN I WAS SON WAS BORN, MY
AFRICAN-AMERICAN DOCTOR
CAUTIONED ME ABOUT SENDING OUR
SON TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL BECAUSE
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST LITTLE
BLACK BOYS WAS COMMON.
WE DECIDED OUR SON'S FUTURE WAS
THE MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENT WE
COULD MAKE.
WE SACRIFICED A GREAT DEAL TO
PLACE HIM IN AN INDEPENDENT
SCHOOL WHERE HE COULD THRIVE.
SO OF COURSE AS HE GREW, MY
HUSBAND HAD THE TALK WITH HIM.
WE WANTED TO BE SURE HE WAS
PREPARED TO THRIVE AND SURVIVE
IN A WORLD THAT WOULD NOT BECOME
ONE AND JUDGE HIM SOLELY ON THE
CONTENT OF HIS CHARACTER.
WHILE IT IS NOT A SHOCK HE WAS
PULLED OVER MORE THAN ONES BY
THE POLICE.
IT WAS A SHOCK THAT IT WAS ON
THE NIGHT OF MY INAUGURATION HE
A COLLEGE FRESHMAN DROVE MY TWO
NIECES BACK TO THE HE TELL ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF CAMPUS.
I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE
CHIEF AND WENT ABOUT THE
INSTITUTION.
INJUSTICE OF THE MOMENT
INTENSIFIED SEVERAL MONTHS LATER
WHEN I WAS INFORMED BY A FACULTY
MEMBER SHE WAS TOLD BY A MEMBER
OF THE CAMPUS FORCE OUR SON HAD
BEEN STOPPED FOR DRUNK DRIVING.
INJUSTICE OF THAT LIE STUNG MORE
THAN THE ACT ITSELF.
AT THAT MOMENT, I RELIED ON DR.
KING WHO HAS CONTINUED TO BE
THROUGHOUT MY LIFE A SPIRITUAL
MENTOR.
AND I STOOD FIRM IN HIS BELIEF
THAT JUSTICE AT ITS BEST IS
POWER CORRECTING EVERYTHING THAT
STANDS AGAINST LOVE.
AS A PERSON OF FAITH, I WAS
REMINDED OF DR. KING'S WORDS:
THEY HAVE NO COMPREHENSION OF
THE STRENGTH THAT COMES FROM
FAITH IN GOD AND MAN.
IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ME TO FALTER.
BUT I AM PROUDLY SECURE IN MY
KNOWLEDGE GOD LOVES US.
HE HAS NOT WORKED OUT A DESIGN
FOR OUR FAILURE.
MAN HAS THE CAPACITY TO DO RIGHT
AS WELL AS WRONG.
HIS HISTORY IS A PATH UPWARD,
NOT DOWNWARD.
THE PAST IS STREWN WITH THE
RUINS OF TYRANNY AND EACH IS A
MONUMENT NOT NEARLY TO MAN'S
BLUNDERS BUT HIS CAPACITY TO
OVERCOME THEM.
I RESOLVED TO OVERCOME BY
RELYING ON MY FAITH AND LEANING
INTO MY PASSION FOR EDUCATION
AND I SET OUT TO CREATE A CAMPUS
ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERYONE HAD A
SENSE OF BELONGING, AND A WAY TO
THRIVE WHEN I ACCEPTED THE
PRESIDENCY, POWER OF EDUCATION
AS A GREAT EQUALIZER COMMITTED
TO BEING A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE
CAN THRIVE.
EACH DAY WE STRIVE TO BE THE
BELOVED COMMUNITY DR. KING
ENVISIONED.
LAWRENCE IS AN INSTITUTION OF
HIGHER LEARNING THAT PROVIDES A
LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION AND
PREPARES STUDENTS FOR A
SUCCESSFUL LIFE AND PREPARES
THEM FOR ANY JOB THIS RAPIDLY
HANGING WORLD WILL PLACE BEFORE
THEM.
A PLACE WHERE CRITICAL THINKING,
PROBLEM SOLVING, STRONG
COMMUNICATION, WRITING, AND
COLLABORATION SKILLS ARE
DEVELOPED.
A PLACE WHERE DEMONSTRATED
FINANCIAL NEED IS MET SO THAT
STUDENTS ARE FREE TO AVAIL
THEMSELVES OF THE RIGOR OF
EDUCATION WITH OPPORTUNITIES
SUCH AS STUDY ABROAD, AND PAID
INTERNSHIPS.
A PLACE WHERE JUSTICE LIVES
BECAUSE IT IS FUELLED BY THE
POWER OF LOVE.
THIS IS THE LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY
THAT A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE
LIFE AND WORK OF DR. KING HAS
INSPIRED ME TO LEAD.
SO ON THIS MLK DAY IT IS
IMPORTANT TO SERVE YET WE MUST
GO DEEPER THAN A DAY OF SERVICE.
DR. KING SAID, ONE OF THE GREAT
TRAGEDIES OF LIFE IS THAT MEN
SELDOM BRIDGE THE GOLF BETWEEN
PRACTICE AND PROFESSION, BETWEEN
DOING AND SAYING.
A PERSISTENT SCHIZOPHRENIA
LEAVES SO MANY OF US TRAGICALLY
DIVIDED AGAINST OURSELVES.
ON THE ONE HAND PROUDLY PROFESS
CERTAIN SUBLIME AND NOBLE
PRINCIPLES.
ON THE OTHER HAND, SADLY
PRACTICE VERY ANTITHESIS OF
THESE PRINCIPLES.
HOW OFTEN ARE OUR LIVES
CHARACTERIZED BY HIGH BLOOD
PRESSUE OF CREEDS AND ANEMIA OF
DEEDS.
WE MAKE OUR FERVENT PLEAS FOR
HIGH ROAD OF JUSTICE AND TREAD
TO THE LOW ROAD OF INJUSTICE.
THIS STRANGE DICHOTOMY IS
AGONIZING OUGHT AND IS
REPRESENTS TRAGIC THEME OF MAN'S
EARTHLY PILGRIMAGE.
EACH OF US CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.
HAVE YOU FALLEN PREY TO ANEMIA
OF DEEDS?
WE OWE IT TO OURSELVES AND THE
LEGACY DR. KING LEFT TO
CHALLENGE OURSELVES TO DO
BETTER.
HIS LIFE AND MY OWN JOURNEY ARE
PROOF THIS IS NOT AN EASY ROAD,
NOR IS IT A COMFORTABLE ONE, YET
IT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE MUST DO IF
WE TRULY BELIEVE IN JUSTICE.
DR. KING SAW THE BEST AND WORST
OF HUMANITY.
HE SAID THAT HUMAN PROGRESS IS
NEITHER AUTOMATIC OR INEVITABLE.
EVERY STEP TO THE GOAL OF
JUSTICE REQUIRES SACRIFICE,
SUFFERING, AND STRUGGLE.
TIRELESS EXERTIONS AND
PASSIONATE CONCERN OF DEDICATED
INDIVIDUALS.
DR. KING CHALLENGED US TO EXAM
OURSELVES AND ASK IF WE ARE
REALLY WORKING TOWARD THE GOAL
OF JUSTICE, SACRIFICE,
SUFFERING, AND STRUGGLE ARE NOT
EASY TO UNDERTAKE.
THEY ARE NOT FOR THE FAINT OF
HEART.
MANY OF US CAN SAY WE HAVE MADE
SACRIFICE TOWARDS JUSTICE.
WE HAVE ENGAGED IN SOME LEVEL OF
SERVICE THAT CAUSED US TO GIVE
UP TIME, TALENT OR TREASURES
THAT WE COULD HAVE USED FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.
I ASK HAVE WE SUFFERED OR
STRUGGLED?
THE STORY I SHARED EARLIER WAS
THE TIP OF AN ICE BURGER OF
STRUGGLE.
THAT TRIP TO MACON, GEORGIA
PREPARED ME FOR SACRIFICE,
STRUGGLE, AND EVEN SUFFERING.
WHILE I KNEW THAT MY LIFE WAS
NOT GOING TO BE EASY, I ALSO
KNEW IT WOULD NOT BE NEARLY AS
DIFFICULT AS THOSE WHO CAME
BEFORE ME.
I AM GRATEFUL FOR DR. KING AND
OTHERS WHO PAVED THE WAY.
HAD THEY GOTTEN WEARY IN WELL
DOING, I WOULD NOT BE STANDING
HERE TODAY.
I EMBRACE AND CONTINUE TO
EMBRACE THE STRUGGLE AND SENSE
OF RESPONSIBILITY I LEARNED ON
THAT TRIP.
SO THAT MY SON AND YOUNG PEOPLE
WHOSE LIVES ARE ENTRUSTED TO ME
WILL HAVE A LIFE CLOSER TO DR.
KING'S DREAM THAN MY OWN.
I ASK YOU TO REFLECT ON
SACRIFICE, AND STRUGGLE OF DR.
KING'S LIFE AND WORK.
TO TAKE WITH YOU MY WISH FOR US
TODAY AND EVERYDAY.
DR. KING SAID IT BEST WHEN HE
SAID TRUE PEACE IS NOT NEARLY
THE ABSENCE OF TENSION IT IS THE
PRESENCE OF JUSTICE.
I WISH YOU A LIFE OF PEACEW AND
JUSTICE.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
LAURIE A. CARTER.
[APPLAUSE]
AND NOW IT HAS BEEN THE
TRADITION HERE AT THIS ANNUAL
EVENT IN THE STATE CAPITOL TO
HAVE A STUDENT READ AND
DEON JOHNSON, "DREAM" EXCERPT
RENDER AN EXCERPT FROM DR.
KING'S 1963 SPEECH, "I HAVE A
DREAM" IS, DEON JOHNSON, JR. 4TH
GRADER AT ABARHAM LINCOLN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MADISON, WI.
DEON ENJOYS BASKETBALL, PLAYS ON
THE SOUTHSIDE RAIDERS FOOTBALL
TEAM, LIKES TO READ AND TELL
STORIES. PLEASE WELCOME DEON
JOHNSON, JR.
[APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS DEON JOHNSON AND
I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH BY DR.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
EVEN THOUGH WE -- I STILL HAVE A
DREAM IT IS A DREAM DEEPLY AN
AMERICAN DREAM.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY THIS
NATION WILL RISE UP AND LIVE OUT
THE TRUE MEANING OF ITS CREED.
WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE
SELF-EVIDENT THAT ALL MEN ARE
CREATED EQUAL.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY OUT
IN THE RED HILLS OF GEORGIA THE
SONS OF FORMER SLAVES AND THE
SONS OF FORMER SLAVEOWNERS WILL
BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN TOGETHER AT
THE TABLE OF BROTHERHOOD.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY EVEN
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, A
STATE SWELTERING WITH THE HEAT
OF OPPRESSION, WILL BE
TRANSFORMED INTO AN OASIS OF
FREEDOM AND JUSTICE.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT MY FOUR
LITTLE CHILDREN WILL ONE DAY
LIVE IN A NATION WHERE THEY WILL
NOT BE JUDGED BY THE COLOR OF
THEIR SKIN BUT BY THEIR
CHARACTER.
I HAVE A DREAM TODAY.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY DOWN
IN ALABAMA, WITH ITS VICIOUS
RACISTS, WITH ITS GOVERNOR
HAVING HIS LIPS DRIPPING WITH
THE WORDS OF INTERPOSITION AND
NULLIFICATION; THAT ONE DAY
RIGHT DOWN IN ALABAMA LITTLE
BLACK BOYS AND BLACK GIRLS WILL
BE ABLE TO JOIN HANDS WITH
LITTLE WHITE BOYS AND WHITE
GIRLS AS SISTERS AND BROTHERS.
I HAVE A DREAM TODAY.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY
EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE ENGULFED,
EVERY HILL SHALL BE EXALTED AND
EVERY MOUNTAIN SHALL BE MADE
LOW, THE ROUGH PLACES WILL BE
MADE PLAINS AND THE CROOKED
PLACES WILL BE MADE STRAIGHT AND
THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHALL BE
REVEALED AND ALL FLESH SHALL SEE
IT TOGETHER.
THIS IS OUR HOPE. THIS IS THE
FAITH THAT I WILL GO BACK TO THE
SOUTH WITH. WITH THIS FAITH WE
WILL BE ABLE TO HEW OUT OF THE
MOUNTAIN OF DESPAIR A STONE OF
HOPE.
WITH THIS FAITH WE WILL BE ABLE
TO TRANSFORM THE JANGLING
DISCORDS OF OUR NATION INTO A
BEAUTIFUL SYMPHONY OF
BROTHERHOOD.
WITH THIS FAITH WE WILL BE ABLE
TO WORK TOGETHER, TO PRAY
TOGETHER, TO STRUGGLE TOGETHER,
TO GO TO JAIL TOGETHER, TO CLIMB
UP FOR FREEDOM TOGETHER, KNOWING
THAT WE WILL BE FREE ONE DAY.
THIS WILL BE THE DAY WHEN ALL OF
GOD'S CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO
SING WITH NEW MEANING "MY
COUNTRY 'TIS OF THEE, SWEET LAND
OF LIBERTY, OF THEE I SING. LAND
WHERE MY FATHER'S DIED, LAND OF
THE PILGRIM'S PRIDE, FROM EVERY
MOUNTAINSIDE, LET FREEDOM RING""
AND IF AMERICA IS TO BE A GREAT
NATION, THIS MUST BECOME TRUE.
SO LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE
HILLTOPS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. LET
FREEDOM RING FROM THE MIGHTY
MOUNTAINS OF NEW YORK.
LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE
HEIGHTENING ALLEGHENIES OF
PENNSYLVANIA.
LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE
SNOW-CAPPED ROCKIES OF COLORADO.
LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE
CURVACEOUS SLOPES OF CALIFORNIA.
BUT NOT ONLY THAT, LET FREEDOM,
RING FROM STONE MOUNTAIN OF
GEORGIA.
LET FREEDOM RING FROM EVERY HILL
AND MOLEHILL OF MISSISSIPPI AND
EVERY MOUNTAINSIDE.
WHEN WE LET FREEDOM RING, WHEN
WE LET IT RING FROM EVERY
TENEMENT AND EVERY HAMLET, FROM
EVERY STATE AND EVERY CITY, WE
WILL BE ABLE TO SPEED UP THAT
DAY WHEN ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN,
BLACK MEN AND WHITE MEN, JEWS
AND GENTILES, PROTESTANTS AND
CATHOLICS, WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN
HANDS AND SING IN THE WORDS OF
THE OLD SPIRITUAL, "FREE AT
LAST, FREE AT LAST. THANK GOD
ALMIGHTY, WE ARE FREE AT LAST."
CHEERED CHEERED
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
WELL FRIENDS, IT IS TIME TO
LOWER THE CURTAIN AS THEY SAY ON
THIS EDITION OF WISCONSIN'S
ANNUAL TRIBUTE AND CEREMONY.
MADE POSSIBLE BY OFFICE OF
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, STAFF,
SPONSORS, PARTICIPANTS.
PERFORMERS, PRODUCTION CREWS,
VOLUNTEERS, MLK PLANNING GROUP.
OUR GUESTS AND YOU.
WHO COME OUT EVERY YEAR TO
CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF
DR. KING.
WOULD YOU STAND AND LET US SING
THAT SONG THAT STILL RINGS TRUE
THAT WE HAVE LET TO OVERCOME.
BUT WE WANT TO, WE STRUGGLE TO,
WE STRIVE TO.
[SINGING]
WE SHALL OVERCOME... [SINGING]
COME ON, SING IT LIKE IT IS.
[MUSIC] LET'S SING IT ONE MORE
TIME.
HERE WE GO.
[MUSIC]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH MUCH,
HAVE A GREAT DAY.
THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TO
CELEBRATE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
[APPLAUSE]