TEST.
[MUSIC] TEST.
TEST.
[MUSIC].
TEST.
[MUSIC] TEST.
TEST.
[MUSIC].
TEST.
[MUSIC]
TEST.
[MUSIC].
TEST.
[MUSIC]
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[MUSIC]
...
WISCONSIN GOV. TONY EVERS -
WELCOME
GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M WISCONSIN
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS - 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.
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.
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.
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.
I BELIEVE THAT TTH 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.
>> 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 ALOCK
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.
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 (SURE FEEL GOOD). 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]
PLEASE REMAIN SEATED AS RABBI
ANDREA STEINBERGER WHO SERVES AS
A RABBI AT THE HILLEL
FOUNDATION, THE JEWISH STUDENT
CENTER AT UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN-MADISON, RENDERS
TODAY'S INVOCATION.
RIBONO SHEL OLAM, CREATOR OF ALL
THE WORLD,
WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS TODAY AS
WE CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF DR.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND WE
DECLARE LET JUSTICE RULE.
THAT PURSUIT OF JUSTICE CONNECTS
US TOGETHER. AND THAT MY FUTURE
IS CONNECTED TO YOUR FUTURE.
SOME PEOPLE MAY SAY THAT THEY
COME TO THEIR HOUSE OF WORSHIP
TO GET AWAY FROM THE PROBLEMS OF
THE WORLD. THAT IN THEIR HOUSE
OF PRAYER THEY FIND RESPITE FROM
THE CHAOS, THE INSTABILITY, AND
THE INJUSTICE IN THE WORLD. THAT
THE SANCTUARY SHOULD INDEED BE A
SANCTUARY FROM LIFE'S STORMS.
AND, YET, THE JEWISH TRADITION
SURFACES AN IDEA THAT A PERSON
SHOULD ONLY PRAY ELAH B'VAYIT
SHE'YESH SHAM CHALONOT, A PERSON
SHOULD ONLY PRAY “IN A ROOM
WHICH HAS WINDOWS.”
WHY WOULD A TRADITION TEACH US
TO PRAY IN A ROOM WITH WINDOWS?
INDEED, OUR PRAYER ALLOWS US TO
FIND DEEP SPIRITUAL CONNECTION.
WE FIND A CONNECTION WITH
OURSELVES, AND IF WE ARE LUCKY
AND FERVENT, WE MAY FIND
CONNECTION WITH THE DIVINE. AND
YET IF A ROOM HAS WINDOWS AND IF
WE LOOK OUT OF THIS ROOM WHEN WE
PRAY, WE WILL ALSO SEE THE
REALITY OF THIS WORLD AS IT IS
IN THIS VERY MOMENT. THAT OUR
WORLD IS NOT COMPLETE. THERE IS
STILL SO MUCH INJUSTICE. WE MUST
NOT ONLY PRAY, BUT WE MUST ACT
IN THIS WORLD. WE MUST NOT STOP
WITH PRAYER. WE MUST USE OUR
PRAYER TO STRENGTHEN US TO
CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR JUSTICE IN
OUR WORLD.
TODAY, THE CELEBRATION OF THE
LIFE OF THE REVEREND MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR. IT IS A WAKE-UP
CALL TO US TO DO JUSTICE, TO
PURSUE JUSTICE AND TO REMEMBER
THAT MY LIFE IS CONNECTED TO
YOUR LIFE. THAT AS DR. KING
SAID, "INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A
THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE.”
HE SAID THAT “WE ARE CAUGHT IN
AN INESCAPABLE NETWORK OF
MUTUALITY, TIED IN A SINGLE
GARMENT OF DESTINY. WHATEVER
AFFECTS ONE DIRECTLY, AFFECTS
ALL INDIRECTLY."
MAY OUR PRAYER BE MIGHTY TODAY.
AND MAY OUR HEADS AND OUR HEARTS
FACE THE WINDOWS. MAY OUR
PRAYERS REACH THE HEAVENS, AND
MAY OUR PRAYERS REACH OUR HARD
HEARTS. MAY OUR PRAYER INSPIRE
US TO PURSUE JUSTICE, AND UPLIFT
THOSE THAT HAVE FALLEN, AND AS
THE PROPHET ISAIAH PUT IT, “TO
UNLOCK THE SHACKLES OF
INJUSTICE, TO LOOSEN THE ROPES
OF THE YOKE, TO LET THE
OPPRESSED GO FREE, AND TO TEAR
EVERY YOKE APART! SHARE YOUR
BREAD WITH THE HUNGRY; BRING THE
HOMELESS POOR INTO YOUR HOUSE.
WHEN YOU SEE THE NAKED, COVER
THEM, NEVER WITHDRAWING YOURSELF
FROM YOU OWN FLESH!”
AND LET OUR PRAYER NOT STOP
THERE. LET US GET OUT OF OUR
SEATS AND GO INTO THE PUBLIC
SQUARE AND DO THE WORK OF
JUSTICE, AS DR. KING SAID,
EXERCISING OUR “MORAL
RESPONSIBILITY TO DISOBEY UNJUST
LAWS.”
AND THEN, AS ISAIAH SAYS:
“ SHALL YOUR LIGHT BLAZE FORTH
LIKE THE DAWN, AND YOUR WOUNDS
SHALL QUICKLY HEAL; YOUR
RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL WALK BEFORE
YOU, THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD
WILL BE YOUR REAR GUARD. THEN,
WHEN YOU CALL, THE LORD WILL
ANSWER; WHEN YOU CRY, GOD WILL
SAY: - HERE I AM.”
KEIN Y'HI RATZON. MAY THIS BE
YOUR WILL. AMEN.
[APPLAUSE]
AND NOW WE PAUSE TO REMEMBER DR.
KING'S LIFE THAT TRAGICALLY
ENDED AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 39.
HE SPOKE FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T
HAVE A VOICE.
AND ULTIMATELY HE GAVE HIS LIFE
FOR WHAT HE BELIEVED IN.
HE BELIEVED WAR WAS EVIL.
PLEASE STAND AS THE W-I-A-R-N-G
COLOR GUARD, PRINCE HALL MASONS
OF WISCONSIN, AND THE 2ND
IS-TH-MIAN HIGHLANDERS, HONOR
THOSE WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE
PRICE FOR FREEDOM AND JUSTICE.
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC] BAGPIPES
[MUSIC]
>> YOU MAYBE SEATED.
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]
>> HELLO, EVERYBODY, BRIEF SONG.
TOTAL PRAISE.
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC] [APPLAUSE]
>> WAIT, WAIT, WAIT A MINUTE.
UM, SISTER DUKE, NO.
NO, YOU ARE NOT COMING UP HERE
AND TEARING UP THE PROGRAM AND
SLIP OFF.
COME ON BACK AND GIVE US ANOTHER
NUMBER, WOULD YOU?
IS THAT ALL RIGHT, GOVERNOR, CAN
WE DO ONE MORE?
ALL RIGHT.
[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]
>> THE BROWN SISTERS OF CHICAGO.
[APPLAUSE]
SEE THAT IS WHAT I TALK ABOUT.
BRING A LITTLE, CAN I JUST SAY
IT, IS IT ALL RIGHT IF I SAY IT,
A LITTLE BIT OF CHURCH UP HERE
IN THE CAPITOL.
LITTLE SOMETHING.
I AM GOING TO NEED A NAP WHEN I
GET HOME.
RIGHT NOW, MY PRIVILEGE TO
INTRODUCE TO YOU, THE WISCONSIN
CHAMBER ORCHESTRA.
FOUNDED IN 1960 BASED IN
MADISON, WISCONSIN CONDUCTED BY
ANDREW SEWELL. MAESTRO SEWELL
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
PLEASE GIVE THEM A WARM MLK
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT WAS AMAZING.
HARD ACT TO FOLLOW.
WE ARE ALL HERE TODAY
CELEBRATING LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING JR.
THANK YOU, GOVERNOR, THANK YOU
DIGNITARIES.
IT IS OUR PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE.
IN YOUR PROGRAM IF YOU HAVE YOUR
PHONE YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG TEXT
SCANNING PAGE FIVE OF THE
PROGRAM.
TODAY'S TRIBUTE IS COMMISSION
WORK BY COMPOSER RESIDENTS DR.
BILL BANFIELD.
BASED ON WRITING AND
ABOLITIONIST FREDRICK DOUGLAS
ENTITLED TESTIMONY OF TONE TUNE
AND TIME.
WE'LL PERFORM TWO EXCERPTS TWO,
THREE, FOUR, AWAKE.
HYMN OF THE PEOPLE.
THEN WE LOVE, WE DON'T KNOW AND
WALK AWAY THIS TIME.
FREDRICK DOUGLAS REPRESENTED
SAXOPHONE.
PEOPLE REPRESENTED BY THE SOLO
JAZZ PIANO.
HARP.
PERCUSSION AND STRINGS.
VOICE OF DRUG LAS BY OUR TWO
NARRATORS.
AND RECIPIENT.
HERE IS TESTIMONY OF TONE, TUNE,
AND TIME BE DR. WILLIAM
BANFIELD.
[MUSIC]
I AM SUPER STISHS ENOUGH TO
BELIEVE FIGURE OF THE ALL
MIGHTY.
DOWN TO HIS HONOR.
TRIUMPH.
MAN THE MAN THE WORLD OVER.
WHETHER LOVE OR HATE, CONFIDENCE
OR FEAR.
TO ALL NATIONS AND THEY ABOVE
ALL THE CONFUSION OF TONGUES,
PROCLAIM THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN.
IF I SPEAK HARSHLY, MY EXCUSE IS
THAT I SPEAK IN FETTERS OF YOUR
OWN FORGING.
REMEMBERING THAT OPPRESSION HAT
THE POWER TO MAKE EVEN A WISE
MAN MAD.
I AM CERTAIN THAT THERE IS
NOTHING GOOD, GREAT OR DESIRABLE
WHICH MAN CAN POSSESS IN THIS
WORLD THAT DOES NOT COME BY SOME
KIND OF LABOR, PHYSICAL, OR
MENTAL, MORAL OR SPIRITUAL.
A MAN AT TIMES GETS SOMETHING
FOR NOTHING.
BUT IT WILL IN HIS HANDS AMOUNT
TO NOTHING.
WHAT IS TRUE IN THE WORLD OF
MATTER IS EQUALLY TRUE IN THE
WORLD OF THE MIND WITHOUT
CULTURE THERE CANNOT BE NO
WEALTH WITHOUT FRICTION NO
POLISH, WITHOUT LABOR, NO
KNOWLEDGEMENT.
WITHOUT ACTION NO PROGRESS AND
WITHOUT CONFLICT NO VICTORY.
[MUSIC]
>> THE ANGRY OCEAN B ENGULFS ITS
HUNDREDS OF SHIPS AND THOUSANDS
OF LIVES ANNUALLY.
THERE IS SOMETHING HORRIBLE,
APPALLING AND STUNNING IN THE
CONTEMPLATION OF THE REMORSE
LESS WHICH ROLLS ON AFTER
WALLOWING ITS WEEPING SHIVERING
IMPLORING VICTIMS.
IT IS THE ONE LIMB CUT OFF
BETTER TO SAVE THE WHOLE BODY.
WHAT MAY SEEM CRUEL AND
REMORSELESS IN ITS TREATMENT IS
FEW NEVERTHELESS MERCY AND
COMPASSION TO MANY.
EVERY CALAMITY ARISING FROM
HUMAN IGNORANCE AND NEGLIGENCE
UPON THE SEA TENDS TO THE
PERFECTION OF NAVAL ARCHITECTURE
TO INCREASE THE KNOWLEDGE OF
OCEAN NAVIGATION AND THEREFORE
TO FASHION THE MINDS OF MEN MORE
AND MORE IN THE LIKENESS OF THE
DIVINE MIND.
[MUSIC] THE PAPER I WRITE THIS
UPON BECAME MY MEAT AND MY
DRINK.
MY SOUL WAS SET ALL ON FIRE ITS
SYMPATHY FOR MY BRETHREN IN
BONDS.
ITS SCATHING DENUNCIATION OF
SLAVE HOLDERS.
ITS FAITHFUL EXPOSURES OF
SLAVERY AND ITS POWERFUL ATTACKS
UPON THE UPHOLDERS OF THE
INSTITUTION.
SEND A THRILL OF JOY THROUGH MY
SOUL.
SUCH AS I HAD NEVER FELT BEFORE.
MY JOYCE HAVE FAR EXCEEDED MY
SORROWS AND MY FRIENDS HAVE
BROUGHT ME FAR MORE THAN MY
ENEMIES HAVE TAKEN FROM ME.
CAN ANY COLORED MAN OR ANY WHITE
MAN FRIENDLY TO FREEDOM OF ALL
MEN EVER FORGET THE NIGHT WHICH
FOLLOWED THE FIRST DAY OF
JANUARY 1863.
I SHALL NEVER FORGET THAT
MEMORABLE NIGHT WHEN A DISTANCE
CITY I WAITED AND WATCHED AT A
PUBLIC MEETING WITH 3,000 OTHERS
NOT LESS ANXIOUS THAN MYSELF FOR
THE WORD OF DELIVERANCE WHICH WE
HAVE HEARD READ TO TODAY.
NOR SHALL I FORGET THE OUTBURST
OF JOY AND THANKSGIVING THAT
RENT THE AIR WHEN THE LIGHTNING
BROUGHT TO US THIS E MANS
MEDICATION PROCLAMATION.
IT IS DIFFICULT FOR US TO WHO
HAVE TOILED SO LONG AND HARD TO
BELIEVE THAT THIS EVENT SO FAR
REACHING AND GLORIOUS IS EVEN AT
THE DOOR.
[APPLAUSE]
GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
THANK YOU.
[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.
MRAEZ MRAEZ
[APPLAUSE]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> I AM IN AWE.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU
GOVERNOR EVERS AND YOUR STOP.
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 MURTHA 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 PERSON 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.
I MY DECEASED GRANDPARENTS TO MY
MOTHER TO MY HUSBAND, MY HUSBAND
DIDN'T EVEN KNOW.
THANK YOU, I AM SORRY.
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. HAR KUS 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]
MOO MOO
[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
INSTITUTIONS.” AND BELIEVES IN
CHARDI KALA, IN SIKHISM, A
PUNJABI TERM FOR ASPIRING TO
MAINTAIN A MENTAL STATE OF
ETERNAL RESILIENCE, OPTIMISM,
JOY... ACCEPTANCE OF HARDSHIP,
LIFE'S EBBS AND FLOWS, RISING
ABOVE ADVERSITY. 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 INSIRED 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 A DHOIS 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.
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]
AWARD.
HERE AGAIN IS THE WISCONSIN
CHAMBER ORCHESTRA AND CONDUCTED
BY ANDREW SEWELL.
[MUSIC]
AWARD. I WILL WALK BY FAITH,
NOT BY SIGHT, FOR ALL GROUNDS OF
HOPE APPLIANCE, HAVE THUS FAR
SIGNALLY FAILED AND BROKEN DOWN
UNDER ME. NONETHELESS, GOD
REIGN, AND WE NEED NOT DESPAIR,
AND I FOR ONE DO NOT. THERE IS A
PROPHET WITHIN US, FOREVER
WHISPERING THAT BEHIND THE SEEN
LIES THE IMMEASURABLE UNSEEN. I
HAVE SEEN DARK HOURS IN MY LIFE,
AND I HAVE SEEN THE DARKNESS
GRADUALLY DISAPPEARING AND THE
LIGHT GRADUALLY INCREASING. ONE
BY ONE, I HAVE SEEN THE
OBSTACLES REMOVED, ERRORS
CORRECTED, PREJUDICES SOFTENED,
PROSCRIPTIONS RELINQUISHED, AND
MY PEOPLE ADVANCING IN ALL OF
THE ELEMENTS THAT MAKE UP THE
SUM OF GENERAL WELFARE. I
REMEMBER THAT GOD REIGNS IN
ETERNITY, AND THAT WHATEVER
DELAYS, WHATEVER DISAPPOINTMENTS
AND DISCOURAGEMENTS MAY COME,
TRUTH, JUSTICE, LIBERTY, AND
HUMANITY WILL ULTIMATELY
PREVAIL. THE SUPREME COURT OF
THE UNITED STATES IS NOT THE
ONLY POWER IN THIS WORLD. IT IS
VERY GREAT, BUT THE SUPREME
COURT OF THE ALMIGHTY IS
GREATER, TRUTH IS ETERNAL. LIKE
THE GREAT GOD FROM WHOSE THRONE
IT EMANATES, IT IS FROM
EVERLASTING UNTO EVERLASTING,
AND CAN NEVER PASS AWAY.
[MUSIC]
.THE FATE OF THE GREATEST OF ALL
MODERN REPUBLICS TREMBLES IN THE
BALANCE. "TO BE, OR NOT TO
BE-THAT IS THE QUESTION." THE
LESSON OF THE HOUR IS WRITTEN
DOWN IN CHARACTERS OF BLOOD AND
FIRE. WE ARE TAUGHT, AS WITH THE
EMPHASIS OF AN EARTHQUAKE, THAT
NATIONS, NOT LESS THAN
INDIVIDUALS, ARE SUBJECTS OF THE
MORAL GOVERNMENT OF THE UNIVERSE
AND THAT FLAGRANT, LONG
CONTINUED, AND PERSISTENT
TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAWS OF
THIS DIVINE GOVERNMENT, WILL
CERTAINLY BRING NATIONAL SORROW,
SHAME, SUFFERING AND DEATH. OF
ALL THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD, WE
SEEM MOST IN NEED OF THIS SOLEMN
LESSON. THE SILVER DEFEAT OF
FREEDOM ROUSED IN MY SOUL
ETERNAL WAKEFULNESS. ..” KATIE
AND PAUL TOGETHER “ THESE TWO
QUESTIONS, LIKE THE TWO SIDES OF
A HORSE SHOULD GO TOGETHER,
LARGELY DEPENDENT UPON EACH
OTHER .CONSENT AND
COOPERATION .THE ANSWER IS OF
VITAL IMPORTANCE. I BELIEVE,
JUSTICE AND GENEROSITY ENOUGH IN
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO SUPPLY
THE NEEDED CONDITIONS OF (OUR)
SUCCESS. CIVILIZATION IS ALL
LOVE AND TENDERNESS TOWARDS
WHATEVER ACCORDS AND COOPERATES.
..ALL MUST GO ALONG WITH IT OR
BE CRUSHED BENEATH ITS SWIFT
FLYING WHEELS ..I KNOW NO RACE
IN MY REGARD BUT THE HUMAN RACE.
THE TENDENCY OF THE AGE IS
UNIFICATION, NOT ISOLATION, NOT
TO CLANS OR CLASS, BUT TO HUMAN
BROTHERHOOD
[APPLAUSE]
>> THE WISCONSIN CHAMBER
ORCHESTRA.
CONDUCTED BY ANDREW SEWELL.
[APPLAUSE]
AND NOW THE MOOD IS SET FOR US
TO RETURN TO A TASTE OF GOSPEL
MUSIC.
ARE YOU FEELING IT RIGHT NOW?
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S AS THEY SAY WITHOUT
FURTHER ADIEU, ONCE AGAIN HERE
ARE THE BROWN SISTERS OF
CHICAGO.
>> OKAY.
THIS SONG SIMPLY SAYS I WILL
CALL UPON THE LORD.
WHEN THINGS GO WRONG WE SAY LORD
HAVE MERCY, RIGHT?
[LAUGHTER] IT IS AN AUTOMATIC
RESPONSE.
THIS SIMPLY SAYS I WILL CALL
UPON THE LORD.
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC] [APPLAUSE]
DON'T LET ME GET STARTED.
THANK YOU.
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.
SHE CAME TO LAWRENCE AFTER
SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF
SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY IN
SHIPPENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, WITH
A FOCUS ON PRIORITIZING STUDENT
SUCCESS, TELLING THE
UNIVERSITY'S STORY, BUILDING A
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY,
AND ENHANCING THE UNIVERSITY'S
OVERALL QUALITY.
4. CARTER'S EFFORTS TO
STRENGTHEN DIVERSITY AND
INCLUSION AT SHIPPENSBURG
UNIVERSITY WERE RECOGNIZED BY
DIVERSE: ISSUES IN HIGHER
EDUCATION, WHICH NAMED HER AS
ONE OF 25 OUTSTANDING WOMEN IN
HIGHER EDUCATION. PRIOR TO
COMING TO LAWRENCE, CARTER WAS A
MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN
ASSOCIATION OF STATE COLLEGES
AND UNIVERSITIES BOARD OF
DIRECTORS, THE KEYSTONE HEALTH
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND THE
PENNSYLVANIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
BOARD.
ORIGINALLY FROM NEW JERSEY,
CARTER ATTENDED CLARION
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA WHERE
SHE RECEIVED A BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE DEGREE IN
COMMUNICATIONS, A MASTER OF ARTS
DEGREE IN COMMUNICATIONS FROM
WILLIAM PATERSON COLLEGE AND
EARNED HER JD DEGREE FROM
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY. SHE WAS
AWARDED AN HONORARY DOCTORATE
FROM SNOW COLLEGE AND IS A
MEMBER OF THE CLARION UNIVERSITY
ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME, IN
RECOGNITION OF HER OUTSTANDING
UNDERGRADUATE CAREER IN TRACK
AND FIELD.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN GIVING A WARM,
WELCOME TO OUR GUEST SPEAKER,
LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT,
LAURIE A. CARTER.
[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.
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 VIV
VIVEDLY REMEMBER WHEN DR. KING
AUZ 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 MAKEN, 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
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 LIFVED 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 VESTAGES 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 WANDED 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 AK SEPTEMBERSED --
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
PRESSURE 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 PILLGRIMPILGRIMAGE.
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 MAKEN, 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
OFRESPONSIBILITY 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 PIECE 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 DION 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 -- WILL RISE UP
AND LIVE OUT THE CREED.
EVIDENT ALL MEN ARE CREATED
EQUAL.
I HAVE A DREAM -- FORMER SLAVE
OWNERS WILL BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN
TOGETHER AT THE TABLE OF
BROTHHOOD.
I HAVE A DREAM TODAY ONE DAY
EVEN STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, A
STATE WITH THE HEAT OF JUSTICE,
SWELTERING WITH THE HEAT OF
OPPRESSION, INTO JUSTICE.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT MY FOUR
LITTLE CHURCHES ONE DAY LIVE IN
A MISSION NOT BE JUDGED BY COLOR
OF THEIR SKIN BY CONTENT OF
THEIR CHARACTER.
I HAVE A DREAM TODAY, I HAVE A
DREAM ONE DAY -- NOTIFICATION,
LITTLE BLACK BOYS AND GIRLS WILL
BE ABLE TO JOIN HANDS WITH
LITTLE WHITE GIRLS AND BOYS AS
SISTERS AND BROTHERS.
I HAVE A DREAM EVERYBODY --
THERE ARE PLACES WHERE WE LIVE
PLACES WILL BE MADE, GLORY OF
THE LORD REVEALED.
THIS IS OUR HOPE AND I GO BACK
TO THE SOUTH WITH.
THIS FAITH HEAL UP GOING
FORWARD.
GOOD FAITH INTO A BEAUTIFUL
BROTHERHOOD.
ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER, PLAY
TOGETHER, SHOVEL TOGETHER, GO TO
JAIL TOGETHER.
THIS WILL BE THE DAY WHEN ALL OF
GOD'S CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO
SING WITH NEW LAND WHERE MY
FATHER DIED, LAND OF PRIDE, AND
IF AMERICA, THIS MUST BECOME
TRUE.
LET'S NEW HAMPSHIRE, LET'S HEAR
FOR NEW YORK.
EVERY PENNSYLVANIA.
LET'S FOR THE -- COURAGEOUS
SLOPES OF CALIFORNIA.
THE MOUNTAINS OF GEORGIA, THE
MOUNTAINS OF TB TENNESSEE, EVERY
HILL IN MISSISSIPPI.
LET FREEDOM RING.
WHEN THIS HAPPENS WILL BE ABLE
TO RING FROM EVERY VILLAGE,
FAMILY, STATE AND CITY.
ABLE TO SPEED UP THAT DAY BLACK
MEN, WHITE MEN, GENTILES,
PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS.
FREE AT LAST! FREE AT LAST! GOD
ALL MIGHTY, FREE AT LAST.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> YOU KNOCKED THAT OUT OF THE
PARK, I WANT YOU TO KNOW.
I WANT TO THANK YOU.
YOU ARE A GREAT ROLE MODEL FOR
CHILDREN YOUR AGE.
YOU STOOD UP TALL.
GIVE HIM ANOTHER HAND.
BIG, TALL.
[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]