[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM WISCONSIN GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND WELCOME TO THE 39TH
ANNUAL TRIBUTE AND CEREMONY
HONORING THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING.
THIS IS THE OLDEST OFFICIAL
STATE CEREMONY IN OUR NATION'S
HISTORY.
SO THANK YOU, WISCONSIN!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AS GOVERNOR, I'M PLEASED TO
JOIN WITH YOU IN REMEMBERING AND
CELEBRATING THE INCREDIBLE LIFE
OF DR. KING.
THE 2019 MLK THEME IS "TRUTH IS
MARCHING."
IT ASKS US TO NOT ONLY CONSIDER
THAT WE ALL CAN SHARE OUR OWN
TRUTHS, BUT ALSO LOOK FOR
OPPORTUNITIES TO LISTEN TO THE
TRUTHS OF OTHERS.
AND NOW IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE
TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER
OF TODAY'S CEREMONY, WISCONSIN'S
OWN DR. JONATHAN OVERBY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> HELL LOAR HELLO, WISCONSIN!
HERE WE ARE TODAY.
IT IS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME AND
GOVERNOR EVERS AND KATHY EVERS
WHO IS HERE AS WELL TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> NOW, WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE
DR. KING'S TODAY, BUT IT'S GOT
TO HAVE A LITTLE SPARK TO IT.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
THIS IS A DAY OF CELEBRATION.
COME ON, EVERYBODY.
PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER.
LET'S HAVE A LITTLE PARTY UP IN
HERE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE ALSO HAVE THE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN, MANDELA
BARNES.
PLEASE RECOGNIZE HIM.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND THE NEWLY-APPOINTED
WISCONSIN SUPERINTENDENT OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, CAROLYN
STANFORD TAYLOR IS HERE TODAY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY.
THIS DAY, MONDAY, JANUARY 21 OF
2019, WE, THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN, GATHER NOT ONLY TO
CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF THE
REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING,
JR. IN WORDS AND MUSIC R, BUT ALSO
TO PURSUE EQUALITY FOR ALL.
THE ANNUAL WISCONSIN TRIBUTE AND
CEREMONY HONORING DR. KING HAS
DRAWN TOGETHER THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE STATE AND
THE MIDWEST WITH A DESIRE TO
CELEBRATE DR. KING AND TO
CELEBRATE EACH OTHER, OUR UNIQUE
DIFFERENCES AS WISCONSINITES,
AND TO ALSO CELEBRATE OUR
COMMONALITIES.
BY DESIGN TODAY, THE PROGRAM HAS
A WOMANIST FRAMING, REPRESENTED
BY OUR DAIS THAT INCLUDES A
DIVERSE COLLECTION OF WOMEN FROM
VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS, IN
RECOGNITION OF THE HISTORICAL
ROLE THAT WOMEN HAVE PLAYED AS
PIONEERS, ACTIVISTS DURING THE
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, CHANGE
MAKERS AND INNOVATORS IN EVERY
FIELD IN TODAY'S WORLD.
AND AS LEADERS AND AS CHAMPIONS
FOR A BETTER TOMORROW, NOT JUST
FOR SOME, BUT FOR ALL.
AND I WOULD LIKE ALL OF OUR
WOMEN ON THIS DAIS TO STAND AND
TO BE RECOGNIZED TODAY FOR THEIR
SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP TO
WISCONSIN.
[WOMEN STANDING] [CHEERS AND STAND
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> PLEASED REMAIN SEATED AS
RABBI ANDREA STEINBERGER, WHO
SERVES AS A RABBI AT THE HILLEL
FOUNDATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN, THE JEWISH STUDENT
CENTER ON THE UW-MADISON CAMPUS,
WHO COMES TO RENDER TODAY'S
INVOCATION.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, DR. OVERBY.
CREATOR OF ALL PEOPLE, WE ASK
YOUR BLESSINGS TODAY AS WE
CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR., AND WE
PROCLAIM THAT THE TRUTH IS
MARCHING.
WE HONOR THE MEMORIES OF WOMEN
AND MEN WHO MARCHED, PROTESTING
SEGREGATION, DEMONSTRATING MORAL
RESISTANCE TO OUR GOVERNMENT'S
POLICIES WHO WERE PIONEERS, WHO
WERE CHANGEMAKERS.
CREATOR OF WOMEN AND MEN OF OF
ALL FAITHS AND RACES AND
GENDERS, REMIND US OF THE GREAT
WOMEN AND MEN BEFORE US WHO
DEMONSTRATED SPIRITUAL
RESISTANCE, OF THE BI BIBLICAL
HANNAH WHO ROSE UP WITH STRENGTH
AND PRAYED FOR A CHILD.
OF THE BIBLICAL MIDWIVES,
SHIFFRA AND PUA WHO REFUSED TO
KILL HEBREW BOYS AND REFUSED THE
GOVERNMENT TO LET THE BOYS LIVE.
HOLY ONE OF BLESSING, REMIND US
OF THE WOMEN AND MEN WHO WERE
FREEDOM RIDERS IN THE SUMMER OF
1963, WHO STOOD AGAINST
SEGREGATION AND RACISM AMIDST
THREATS OF VIOLENCE UPON THEM,
WOMEN WHO BY THEIR EFFORTS OF
RESISTANCE LED US ON A PATH
TOWARD THE WOMEN'S MARCHES OF
TODAY.
TELL US AGAIN OF ROSA PARKS, WHO
IN AN ACT OF EXTRAORDINARY
COURAGE REFUSED TO GIVE UP HER
SEAT ON AN ALABAMA BUS.
TEACH US ABOUT THE DOZENS OF
PRETEEN GIRLS WHO IN 1963 WERE
JAILED FOR TWO MONTHS IN A
STOCKADE IN LEESBURG, GEORGIA
FOR CHALLENGING SEGREGATION IN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
O LORD, MAKE US UNCOMFORTABLE.
REMIND US NOT TO BE, AS DR. KING
SAID, MORE DEVOTED TO ORDER THAN
TO JUSTICE.
URGE US NOT TO WAIT FOR A MORE
CONVENIENT SEASON.
TEACH US THAT IT IS OUR MORAL
RESPONSIBILITY TO DISOBEY UNJUST
LAWS.
TEACH US TO LISTEN TO THE
LANGUAGE OF THE UNHEARD.
MERCIFUL ONE OF UNDERSTANDING,
TEACH US HOW TO BE STRONG IN OUR
PROTEST.
RAISE US UP, THE YOUNG GIRLS AND
THE WISE WOMEN AND MEN WHO ARE
HERE IN THIS ROOM TODAY, GIVE US
THE COURAGE TO DECLARE WITH
EVERY FIBER IN OUR BEING WHAT IS
STILL UNJUST IN THIS COUNTRY.
GIVE US THE COURAGE TO
DEMONSTRATE THAT THE TRUTH IS
MARCHING.
IN YOUR HOLY NAME, WE SAY AMEN.
>> TODAY'S COMMEMORATION OF
DR. KING'S LIFE ALSO RECALLS HIS
TRAGIC DEATH AT THE AGE OF OF
39.
IN TRUTH, KING WAS MURDERED.
IN TRUTH, HE WAS NOT A PERFECT
SOUL.
AND YET WHAT HE LIVED FOR AND
WHAT HE DIED FOR WAS INDEED
PERFECT.
IN TRUTH, HE ENTE INTERCEDED FOR A
MARGINALIZED GROUP OF PEOPLE.
HE IS IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF
PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD ENTITLED
TO THE PUBLIC VENERATION THAT WE
BESTOW UPON HIM.
BECAUSE OF HIS UNWAVERING
COURAGE TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER
ABOUT THE EVILNESS OF WAR,
RACISM, OPPRESSION, OBSTRUCTIST
EFFORTS TO KEEP BLACK PEOPLE
FROM VOTING AND SO ON AND SO ON.
REVEREND DOCTOR WAS NOT ALONE.
MANY NAMES LIE ALONGSIDE THOSE
UNKNOWN BARRED BARDS WHO ALSO SPOKE OF
FREEDOM AT THEIR PERIL LONG
BEFORE THERE WAS A MOVEMENT.
SO WITH THE NATIONAL GUARD,
CAPITOL CITY LODGE NO. 2 AND THE
SECOND ISTHMIAN HIGHLANDERS, LET
US STAND TO HONOR ALL WHO PAID
THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR FREEDOM
AND JUSTICE.
*
[WISCONSIN AIR AND ARMY NATIONAL
GUARD HONOR DETAIL, PRINCE HALL
CAPITAL CITY LODGE NO. 2 AND THE
2nd ISTHMIAN HIGHLANDERS
PLAYING BAGS AND PIPES]
*
[TAPS BEING PLAYED]
*
["AMAZING GRACE" BEING PLAYED]
*
[RECESSIONAL OF HONOR GUARD]
>> AND NOW, WHILE YOU ARE STILL
STANDING, LET'S CELEBRATE EACH
OTHER.
PLEASE TURN AND GREET A STRANGER
NEAR YOU IN THE SPIRIT OF GOOD
COMMUNITY.
[ATTENDEES GREETING ONE ANOTHER]
>> DR. KING WAS A GIFTED ORATOR.
WHEN HE SPOKE, HE COULD TAKE YOU
TO THE MOUNTAINTOP.
HIS WORDS WERE DESIGNED TO DRAW
PEOPLE OF THIS NATION TOGETHER.
IN TRUTH, HIS WORDS WERE WARNING
UTTERED SOME 50 YEARS AGO THAT
DRAMATICALLY ARE IN ALIGNMENT
WITH THE DISTRESSING SOCIAL
ISSUES THAT WE AS A NATION FACE
TODAY.
VIOLENT ATTACKS UPON INNOCENT
PEOPLE IN PUBLIC PLACES AND
SACRED PLACES OF WORSHIP ECHO
BACK TO KING'S TIME WHEN THE
SENTIMENTS OF WE AGAINST THEM
IMPERILLED THOSE WHO WANTED WHAT
THEY DESERVED: EQUAL RIGHTS.
HOWEVER, LET US THIS DAY FIND
SOLACE AND STRENGTH IN THE POWER
OF SONG.
SO HERE IS MUSIC DIRECTOR BECCA
MAY GRANT AND THE PIANO AND THE
MLK WOMEN'S MASS CHOIR UNDER THE
DIRECTION OF TAMERA A STANLEY.
PLEASE GIVE THEM A WARM WELCOME.
[APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE.
WE ARE HONORED TO BRING TO YOU
THIS SELECTION AT THIS TIME, THE
FIRST ONE BEING "DOWN BY THE
RIVERSIDE" AND A SECOND ONE AN
ORIGINAL PIECE, "JUSTICE."
* HOLY, HOLY, HALLELUJAH *
* GLORY, GLORY, HALLELUJAH
* HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON
*
* THE VERY LOVING ONE
* O, WHAT CAN WE GIVE THE
WEALTHY ONE *
* THE EVER BLESSED SOVEREIGN
ONE *
* O LORD, WE WANT TO SERVE YOU
* OOH
* HOW CAN WE SERVE THE RIGHTEOUS
ONE *
* THE ONLY ETERNAL ONE
* OOH
* WHAT CAN WE SHOW THE WISE
ONE *
* THE EVER BLESSED ONE
* O LORD, WE WANT TO SERVE YOU
* WHAT DOES HE REQUIRE
*
* TO TRUST HIM
* O, AND LOVE HIM
* YOU'RE GOD
* OOH
* THAT'S WHAT YOU DESIRE
* THAT'S WHAT YOU REQUIRE, O
LORD, YEAH *
* THE LAMB OF MERCY
* O, THE LAMB OF MERCY
* THE LAMB
* WITH YOU
* AND THE MERCY
*
* BLESS THE LAMB
* JESUS
* BLESS THE LAMB
JESUS, YOU POSSESS THE WORLD *
* OOH
* MAY WE WALK IN TRUTH
* THE TRUTH
* WALK IN TRUTH
*
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
*
* GONNA LAY DOWN MY BURDEN
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* GONNA LAY DOWN MY BURDEN
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* STUDY WAR NO MORE
* GONNA LAY DOWN MY BURDEN
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* GONNA LAY DOWN MY BURDEN
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* STUDY WAR NO MORE
* (I AIN'T GONNA)
* STUDY WAR NO MORE
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* SING, SING, SING, SING
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* SING, SING, SING, SING
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* STUDY WAR NO MORE
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* PRAY, PRAY, PRAY
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* STUDY WAR NO MORE
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* PRAY
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* SHOUT, SHOUT, SHOUT, SHOUT
* SING, SING, SING, SING
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* STUDY WAR NO MORE
[CLAPPING HANDS]
* PRAISE HIM BY THE RIVERSIDE
* STUDY WAR NO MORE
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> OH, I KNOW YOU CAN DO BETTER
THAN THAT.
COME ON.
GIVE THE MLK MASS CHOIR A BIG
HAND.
[APPLAUSE] * I LIKE THAT
* COME ON, Y'ALL
* ALL RIGHT
* O YEAH
* YES
* WELL
* FEELS KIND OF GOOD
* O
* DON'T LET ME GET STARTED
* I'M FROM MILWAUKEE
* IT DON'T TAKE MUCH
* YEA
* ALL RIGHT
* WELL, MM-HMM
GIVE THEM SOMETHING BACK THERE.
I HEARD HIM.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THAT'S HOW YOU GET TO SHOUT
OUT, PASTORS.
ALL RIGHT.
YOU READY FOR SOME MORE MUSIC?
DO WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE HERE FROM
SHY TOWN TODAY?
WE'VE GOT THE VICTORY TRAVELS
HERE, GOSPEL QUARTET, FIRST
ORGANIZED BY DEACON REUBEN
BURTON IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.
THEY PERFORMED AS ARTISTS ON
STAGE, RECORDING ARTISTS.
THEY'VE SHARED THEIR MUSIC WITH
FOLKS AT VARIOUS VENUES,
INCLUDING THE CHICAGO BLUES
FESTIVAL, CHICAGO GOSPEL
FESTIVAL, THROUGHOUT THE UNITED
STATES, CANADA AND FRANCE.
YOU ALL LOOK GOOD OVER THERE.
I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE COMING
OUT THERE WITH SUNDAY'S BEST.
BUT YOU READY?
YOU GOT SOMETHING FOR US?
WELCOME BACK.
THEY WERE HERE LAST WEEK AND
PEOPLE SAID YOU HAVE TO BRING
THEM BACK.
HERE THEY ARE, THE VICTORY
TRAVELERS GOSPEL QUARTET.
[APPLAUSE] * FO FORGIVE ME LORD *
* TRY ME ONE MORE TIME
* I KNOW I BEEN WRONG
* GIVE ME ONE MORE CHANCE
* LOOK FOR A BETTER PLACE TO
LIVE *
* LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO
LIVE *
* I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE
TO LIVE *
* I'M LOOKING
* I'M SEEKING
* LORD, I'M PRAYING, YES, I AM
* YOU KNOW I'M LOOKING FOR A
BETTER PLACE TO LIVE *
* I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE
TO LIVE *
* YOU KNOW THAT I'M LOOKING FOR
A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE *
* LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO
LIVE *
* I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE
TO LIVE *
* I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE
TO LIVE *
* YES, I AM
* YOU KNOW I'M LOOKING AND I'M
SEEKING *
* LORD, I'M PRAYING
* I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE
TO LIVE *
* I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE
TO LIVE *
* YOU KNOW THAT I'M LOOKING HERE
AND THERE *
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* YEAH
* YEA
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOK FOR A BETTER PLACE TO
LIVE *
* OOOH
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WELL, LET'S CONTINUE THE
CELEBRATION.
*
>> NOW, LET ME HEAR THE HAND
CLAP, FEEL IT ALL OVER THE
PLACE.
JUST CLAP THOSE HANDS LIKE THAT.
COME ON, CLAP THOSE HANDS.
COME ON, COME ON.
CLAP A LITTLE BIT LOUDER.
LET ME SING THIS SONG.
* SINCE HE CAME INTO MY LIFE
* EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED
* SINCE HE CAME INTO MY LIFE
* EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED
* SINCE HE CAME INTO MY LIFE
* EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED
* O YEAH
* LET ME SAY IT AGAIN
* SINCE HE CAME INTO MY LIFE
* EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED
* SINCE HE CAME INTO MY LIFE
* EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED
* SINCE HE CAME INTO MY LIFE
* EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED
* O YEAH
* SINCE HE CAME INTO MY LIFE
* EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED
* I'M GLAD TO SAY
* SINCE HE CAME INTO MY LIFE
* EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED
* O YEAH
* LET ME GO ON WITH THE REST OF
THE SONG *
* I GOT A NEW WALK SINCE HE
CAME *
* I GOT A NEW TALK SINCE HE
CAME *
* I GOT A NEW WAY OF LIVING
SINCE HE CAME *
* I GOT A NEW WAY OF GIVING
SINCE HE CAME *
* I GOT A NEW WALK SINCE HE
CAME *
* I GOT A NEW TALK SINCE HE
CAME *
* I GOT A A NEW WAY OF LIVING
SINCE HE CAME *
* I GOT A NEW WAY OF GIVING
SINCE HE CAME *
* YEA
* CAME, CAME, YEA
* CHANGED ME, CHANGED ME
* I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED
* CA YOU AGREE WITH ME
* I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED
* CLAP YOUR HANDS *
* WHY DON'T YOU DO ME A
FAVOR *
* I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED
NOTE *
>> ONE MORE TIME.
* I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED
* YEA
* I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED
*
[CLAPPING AND INSTRUMENTAL
MUSIC]
* YEA
* I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED
*
[CLAPPING AND INSTRUMENTAL
MUSIC]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I JUST HAVE TO SAY, I DON'T
KNOW WHY THE VICTORY TRAVELERS
WOULD COME UP TO MY PROGRAM,
JUST TEAR IT UP LIKE THAT.
THEY GOT A SPECIAL SOMETHING,
DON'T THEY?
PLEASE GIVE THEM ANOTHER ROUND
OF APPLAUSE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> PATTI LOWE IS A PROFESSOR IN
THE MEDILL SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM
AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AND
DIRECTOR OF NU CENTER FOR NATIVE
AMERICAN AND INDIGENOUS
RESEARCH.
DR. LOWE IS A DOCUMENTARY
PRODUCER AND FORM ER BROADCAST
JOURNALIST IN PUBLIC AND
COMMERCIAL TELEVISION, INCLUDING
"WAY OF THE WARRIOR," WHICH
AIRED NATIONALLY ON PBS IN 2007
AND 2011.
PROFESSOR LOWE IS A MEMBER OF
THE BAD RIVER BAND OF LAKE
SUPERIOR OJIBWA, THE AUTHOR OF
FOUR BOOKS.
ONE IS "NATIVE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN," USED BY 18,000
WISCONSIN SCHOOL CHILDREN AS A
SOCIAL STUDIES TEXTBOOK.
HER WORK FEATURES ON NATIVE
AMERICAN YOUTH AND DIGITAL
STORYTELLING.
FOR HER STEADFAST SERVICE TO
OTHERS, ON BEHALF OF THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, I AM PLEASED
TO ANNOUNCE THAT PATTI LOWE IS
THE RECIPIENT OF WISCONSIN'S
2019 MLK HERITAGE AWARD.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[SPEAKING IN OJIBWA]
>> THANK YOU.
GOVERNOR EVERS, STATE OFFICIAL,
DR. OVERBY, FRIENDS, MY FAMILY,
INCLUDING MY MOTHER, ALICE LOWE,
WHO IS IS JOINING ME TODAY.
MY MOTHER IS THE INSPIRATION,
THE WOMAN WHO TAUGHT ME CULTURAL
HUMILITY AND WHO HAS BLESSED HER
FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR 95 YEARS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THE PARKS FAMILY.
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THIS DAY
MUST BE LIKE FOR YOU.
I AM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS AND
HUMBLED BY THE LEGACY SANDRA
LEFT.
LIKE DR. KING, SANDRA'S LIFE WAS
ENDED BY GUN VIOLENCE BEFORE SHE
COULD FULFILL HER DREAM.
DR. KING'S LEGACY WAS ONE OF
PEACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT IF
DR. KING WERE ALIVE TODAY, HE
WOULD BE WARNING US AGAINST
ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE, TOO.
HE WOULD BE --
[APPLAUSE]
>> HE WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT
THE ASSAULTS ON OUR EARTH, ON
OUR AIR, OUR WATER.
THESE RESOURCES ARE PRECIOUS TO
MY PEOPLE.
I'VE BEEN GIFTED WITH THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THEIR
STORIES, THE STORIES OF THESE
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS WHO
ENVISION A BETTER LIFE, THESE
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS AND OUR
NONINDIAN ALLIES, WHO TRY TO
MAKE WISE DECISIONS FOR THE
BENEFIT OF OUR CHILDREN, OUR
GRANDCHILDREN AND BEYOND TO ON
THE SEVENT SEVENTH GENERATION.
THEY PERSIST NOT JUST FOR NATIVE
PEOPLE, BUT FOR ALL PEOPLE.
I ACCEPT THIS AWARD IN THEIR HON
OMPLET THHONOR.
THANK YOU.
[SPEAKING IN OJIBWA]
[APPLAUSE]
>> HER NAME IS SANDRA PARKS.
IN 2016, SANDRA HAD WRITTEN AN
ESSAY ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE IN HER
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAD
HELD AN ESSAY CONTEST ABOUT
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
SANDRA, THEN A 6TH GRADER, A
STUDENT AT KEEFE AVENUE MIDDLE
SCHOOL IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN,
WON THIRD PLACE.
SHE CHOSE TO WRITE ABOUT GUN
VIOLENCE, SHE SAID, BECAUSE THE
WORLD HAD FAILED TO LIVE UP TO
THE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER'S DREAM.
AND SHE TITLED HER ESSAY "OUR
TRUTH."
JUST DAYS LEADING UP TO THE 2018
THANKSGIVING DAY HOLIDAY, AROUND
8:00 P.M., TRAGEDY CAME.
SAN IS DRA WAS AT HOME IN A
BEDROOM WHEN SHE WAS HIT BY A
RANDOMLY-FIRED GUNSHOT FROM THE
STREET.
SANDRA DID NOT SURVIVE.
SHE WASES JUST 13 AND FAR TOO
YOUNG TO KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT
DEATH LIVING IN MILWAUKEE.
HER ZIP CODE, 53206.
BUT TODAY, WE HAVE A GOOD STORY,
BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN
SANDRA PARKS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE, I AM PLEASED TO PAY
TRIBUTE TO HER MEMORY BY
ANNOUNCING THAT SANDRA PARKS IS
POSTHUMOUSLY HONORED AS THE
RECIPIENT OF THE WISCONSIN 2019
MLK HERITAGE AWARD.
HER TO ACCEPT THE AWARD, PLEASE
GO AHEAD.
[APPLAUSE]
>> HERE TO ACCEPT THE AWARD IS
HER MOTHER, BEER KNE BERNICE PARKS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR
BEING HERE.
THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME
AND ACCEPT THIS AWARD FOR MY
BABY.
IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY, VERY
HARD.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR
ALL THE PRAYERS, THE LOVE, THE
GIFTS, THE CARDS.
MY SON.
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING
EVERYBODY HAS DONE FOR US, THE
MAYOR, THE ALDERMEN.
YOU GUYS HAVE REALLY BEEN A
BLESSING TO MY FAMILY.
I STRUGGLED SO LONG AND NOW I
GOT ONE MORE STEP TO MAKE AND
I'LL BE BE GOOD.
I PROMISE I'M GONNA BE OKAY.
MY FAMILY HELPED ME THROUGH
THIS.
I GOT TO ACCEPT A LOT OF THINGS
AND SORT A LOT OF THINGS OUT,
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY I
GOTTA KEEP GOING.
SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A BOOK OF
ALL HER POEMS THAT SHE WROTE AT
KEEFE AVENUE.
AND I'M GOING TO GET IT
PUBLISHED AND YOU ALL ARE
WELCOME TO BUY IT, GET IT AS A
GIFT, HOWEVER YOU WANT IT.
BUT JUST PLEASE, PLEASE, I'M
BEGGING YOU, DON'T FORGET MY
BABY.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS
THAT PASSED AWAY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> A LOT OF KIDS THAT PASSED
AWAY LAST YEAR.
AND I KNOW WHAT THEIR PARENTS
ARE GOING THROUGH.
I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD KNOW
WHAT A PARENT GOING THROUGH WHEN
THEY LOSING A KID.
AND RIGHT NOW TODAY I FEEL LIKE
SAYING HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?
AND I STILL WANT ANSWERS,
MILWAUKEE.
I STILL WANT ANSWERS.
THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
SANDRA'S A BLESSING.
SHE WAS A BLESSING TO ME WHEN I
FIRST GOT HER, WHEN GOD GAVE HER
TO ME.
SHE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A
BLESSING ON ALL OF US.
YOU ALL THOUGHT, YOU ALL WRITE
IN.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE BROUGHT
POEMS.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
I HAVEN'T READ ANYTHING THAT
ANYBODY SENT ME YET, BUT I
PROMISE YOU WHEN I GET TIME TO
SIT DOWN AND GET INTO MY NEW
PLACE, WHICH I'M NOT IN YET, I
REALLY WOULD LIKE TO READ THOSE
POEMS AND EVERYTHING EVERYBODY
GAVE ME.
SO THANKS, EVERYBODY.
APPRECIATE IT.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WE WILL NOT, AS WE SAY IN THE
CHURCH, AMEN.
WE WILL NOT FORGET SANDRA PARKS.
AND NOW WHERE THERE'S PAIN AND
WHERE THERE'S HURT, MUSIC OFTEN
COMES TO GIVE US THAT BRIDGE TO
THE HEALING.
AND SO ONCE AGAIN LET'S
CELEBRATE IN REMEMBRANCE OF ALL
THAT IS GOOD AMONG US, THE
MEMORIES, THE TIMES, THE
SETTINGS.
VICTORY TRAVELERS, COME ON.
TANG US TO THE MOUNTAINTOP.
>> THERE'S A SONG I WANT TO DO.
I THINK IT WILL BE FITTING THAT
SAYS: * I JUST WANNA GO WHERE
EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME *
* O, AND BE GLAD THAT YOU CAME
* I WANT TO GO WHERE EVERYBODY
KNOWS YOUR NAME *
>> CAN I SAY IT AGAIN * I JUST
WANNA GO WHERE EVERYBODY CAN
HEAR YOUR NAME *
* O YEA, O YEA
* THAT YOU CAME
* I WANNA GO WHERE EVERYBODY
KNOWS YOUR NAME *
>> BROTHERS, HELP ME SING.
* I JUST WANT TO GO WHERE
EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME *
* EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME
* I WANT TO GO WHERE EVERYBODY
KNOWS YOUR NAME *
* I JUST WANT TO GO WHERE
EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME *
* AND BE GLAD THAT YOU CAME
* I WANNA GO WHERE EVERYBODY
KNOWS YOUR NAME *
* I WANNA SAY JESUS, O YEA
* JESUS, JESUS
* CAN I GET A WITNESS SAY
JESUS *
* JESUS, JESUS
* I JUST WANNA GO TO HEAVEN
* HEAVEN, HEAVEN
> * CAN ANYBODY
AGREE WITH ME *
* JUST WAVE YOUR HANDS
* I JUST WANNA SEE JESUS, JESUS,
JESUS *
* LORD JESUS
* O JESUS, O JESUS, O JESUS
* CAN I DO IT AGAIN
* MASTER, SAVIOUR, JESUS
* JESUS, JESUS
* REDEEMER, SAVIOUR
* JESUS, JESUS
* I JUST WANT TO GO WHERE
EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME *
* I JUST WANT TO GO WHERE
EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME *
* I JUST WANNA GO WHERE
EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME *
* JUST LIFT YOUR HAND AND SAY
* AND BE GLAD THAT YOU CAME
* O, I WANNA GO WHERE EVERYBODY
KNOWS YOUR NAME *
* O, O, O, I WANNA GO WHERE WITH
EVERYBODY KNOWS, KNOWS YOUR
NAME *
* GRAB SOMEBODY'S HAND THAT'S
SITTING BESIDE YOU AND LOOK AT
THEM EYEBALL TO EYEBALL AND
SIGH: * I WANNA GO WHERE
EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME *
[APPLAUSE] * OOOH YEA
* EVERYBODY'S NAME
* OOOH
* MY NAME, YEA, YEA
* O YEA
* ALL RIGHT
[APPLAUSE]
>> YOU MESSIN' WITH ME NOW.
I'M UPSET.
>> IT WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO
ANNOUNCE THAT KEEFE AVENUE
MIDDLE SCHOOL IS HERE TO
REPRESENT TODAY THE PRINCIPAL,
DR. CHRISTLYN STANLEY IS HERE AS
WELL.
THEY CAME UP FROM MILWAUKEE.
THERE SHE IS.
AND LET'S GIVE HER AND ALL THE
STUDENTS WHO CAME FROM KEEFE
AVENUE MIDDLE SCHOOL, SANDRA
PARKS' SCHOOL IN MILWAUKEE,
WISCONSIN.
GIVE THEM A BIG MADISON WELCOME,
PLEASE.
[APPLAUSE]
[STANDING OVATION]
>> AND NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO
INTRODUCE OUR GUEST SPEAKER,
RITA COBURN, A PEABODY AND EMMY
AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR, WRITER
AND PRODUCER WITH NEARLY FOUR
DECADES IN RADIO, TELEVISION AND
FILM.
BEGINNING HER CAREER AS A
PRODUCER AND WRITER FOR VARIOUS
NEWS OUTLETS ACROSS THE U.S.,
COBURN WENT ON TO PRODUCE FOR
THE LIGHTS OF THE OPRAH WINFREY
SHOW, OPRAH RADIO, APOLLO LIVE
AND WALT DISNEY PRODUCTIONS.
IN 2016 MAYA ANGELOU "AND STILL
I RISE," CODIRECTED AND PRODUCED
BY COBURN.
IT PREM MEERD PREMIERED AT THE 2017
SUNDANCE FESTIVAL AND WON A
PEABODY AWARD IN 2017.
COBURN'S VALUE IS SUCH THAT SHE
BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN
GENERATIONS BY PRESERVING
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY THROUGH
HER WORK.
SHE ADDRESSES TOPICS FROM
MULTIGENERATIONAL LENS WITH A
PASSION FOR IMPACTING OTHERS
THROUGH THE UNTOLD STORIES OF
PROMINENT FIGURES AND KEY IDEALS
RELEVANT TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN
CULTURE.
AFTER A SELECTION BY THE MLK
WOMEN'S MASS CHOIR, THE NEXT
VOICE THAT YOU WILL HEAR IS THAT
OF RITA COBURN.
HERE AGAIN IS MUSIC DIRECTOR
BECCA MAY GRANT AT THE PIANO
WITH THE MLK WOMEN'S MASS CHOIR
WITH TAMERA STANLEY CONDUCTING.
[APPLAUSE]
*
* PAUL AND SILAS BOUND IN JAIL
* HAD NO MONEY FOR TO GO THEIR
BAIL *
* KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE,
HOLD ON *
* HOLD ON
* KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE,
HOLD ON *
* HOLD ON
* SILAS BEGAN TO SHOUT
* DOORS OPENED AND THEY WALKED
OUT *
* KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE,
HOLD ON *
* HOLD ON, HOLD ON
* KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE,
HOLD ON *
SNOALD HOLD ON *
* I GOT MY HAND ON THE GOSPEL
PLOW *
* WON'T TAKE NOTHING FOR MY
JOURNEY NOW *
* KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE,
HOLD ON *
* HOLD ON, HOLD ON
* KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE,
HOLD ON *
* HOLD ON, HOLD ON
* KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE,
HOLD ON *
* HOLD ON
[APPLAUSE]
>> ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
THIS WHOLE AFFAIR, THIS WHOLE
CELEBRATION.
TO THE WOMEN WHO HAVE JUST
LIFTED THEIR VOICES, ALL THE
PERFORMERS, GOVERNOR TONY EVERS,
PAUL SOGLIN, DR. JONATHAN AND
AMY OVERBY, OFFICIALS, CLERGY,
LISTENERS, VIEWERS AND ALL OF
YOU.
YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE
BIRTH, THE LIFE AND THE DEATH OF
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEANS
THAT WE ARE ALL FROM THE SAME
TRIBE.
WE ARE THE EVIDENCE THAT TRUTH
IS MARCHING.
IT IS A WEST AFRICAN CONCEPT
THAT WE LIVE LIFE ON THREE
LEVELS.
BUT LIVING LIKE YOU AND I,
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIMES WE ARE
IN.
THE LIVING DEAD LIKE JESUS AND
GHANDI, RELATIVES THAT HAVE
BECOME ANCESTORS, BUT ANYONE
DECEASED BUT WHOM WE SPEAK
ABOUT.
AND LASTLY THE DEAD AND GONE,
THE PEOPLE ON EARTH WHERE NOBODY
UTTERS THEIR NAME.
YOU ARE HERE TO KEEP THE MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR. ADEALS ALIVE.
AS WE FOCUS ON WOMEN, WE MUST
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WOMEN HAVE
TAKEN NOAMENTS TH MOMENTS IN THIS SOCIET
AND CHANGED THEM INTO MOVEMENT
FOR CHANGE IN THE WORLD.
AS WE TOUCH OUR HUMANITY WE CAN
SEE OUR LIVES IN THE LIVES OF
ORDINARY WOMEN.
WE CAN SEE OUR POWER.
FOR OUR YOUTH AND OUT OF RESPECT
TO HISTORY AND HER STORY, ALLOW
ME TO GO BACK SO THAT WE CAN
PRESS FORWARD.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WOULD
CALL THE MURDER OF 14-YEAR-OLD
EMMETT TILL IN 1955, WHO WAS
ACCUSED OF WHISTLING AT A WHITE
WOMAN, ONE OF THE WORST CRIMES
OF THE CENTURY.
KING WOULD USE THE TILL MURDER
AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE EVILS OF
RACIAL INJUSTICE.
BUT IT WAS MAMIE TILL, A
GRIEVING MOTHER, WHO WOULD CALL
WORLDWIDE ATTENTION TO HER SON'S
BLOATED, BEATEN FACE, AN
APPALLING VISION OF RACIAL
INJUSTICE.
A MOTHER'S GRIEF PRIMED A
MOVEMENT.
I AM FROM CHICAGO AND KNOW THAT
IN 2019 AFRICAN-AMERICAN MOTHERS
ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY ARE STILL
GRIEVING THE WRONGFUL DEATH OF
THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS.
AS WE BUILD OUR TRIBE, AWAKENED
WOMEN AND MEN MUST LIFT THEIR
VOICES ACROSS AISLES AND RACIAL
LINES FOR THESE INJUSTICES TO
STOP.
ONLY OUR SINCERE ACKNOWLEDGMENT
OF HUMANITY CAN CREATE AN
EFFECTIVE CALL TO ACTION.
LIKE MAMIE TILL'S WAILS FOR HER
SON, WE AS THE WOMEN, THE
MOTHERS, THE SISTERS OF THIS
TIME MUST EXCAVATE OUR VOICES,
SOUND A POWERFUL BATTLE CRY AND
MARCH FOR TRUTH.
THREE MONTHS AFTER MAMIE TILL
CREATED AN INTERNATIONAL STAGE
BY CALLING ATTENTION TO HER
SON'S MURDER, MARTIN LUTHER KING
WOULD RISE AS A NATIONAL FIGURE
AS THE LEADER OF THE MONTGOMERY
BUS BOYCOTT.
ROSA PARKER WAS NOT THE FIRST TO
REFUSE TO GIVE UP HER SEAT.
REFUSALS WERE OFTEN FOLLOWED BY
ARREST.
BYE JUSBUT JUST PRIOR TO PARK'S' A
15-YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS ARRESTED
BEFORE SHE REFUSED TO GIVE UP
HER SEAT.
SHE WAS 15 AND PREGNANT.
IT WAS THE COMPASSION OF THE
NEGRO COMMUNITY THAT LULLED THE
INHUMANTY OF ARRESTING A YOUNG
PREGNANT WOMAN.
WE CARED ABOUT OUR CHILDREN.
THAT ACT STIRRED THE CHAOS OF
MANY PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN
STUMBLING AROUND IN THE DEEP,
DARK WELL OF RACISM.
THEY HAD STARTED TO LOOK FOR THE
LIGHT AND ROSA PARKS FOUND THE
SWITCH.
WHEN SHE SAT DOWN, A NATIONAL
AND INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT BEGAN
BECAUSE MEDIA COVERAGE WAS
WORLDWIDE, DONATIONS TO FIGHT
THIS INJUSTICE CAME FROM ALL
OVER THE WORLD.
OUR CHOICE TO STAND OR SIT WILL
CHANGE THE TIMES WE LIVE IN.
AS WOMEN, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE
YOU TO BY ALL MEANS GROW TIRED
OF WHAT IS WRONG IN OUR SOCIETY.
YOUR TIREDNESS CREATES SOME OF
THE BEST BOOTS AND HEELS ON THE
GROUND.
IT IS NOT FATIGUE, IT IS AN
INDICATION THAT YOU HAVE THE
ABILITY TO CHANGE THE WORLD.
[APPLAUSE]
>> KING HAD STUDIED GHANDI, BUT
MANY OF THE LESS EDUCATED PEOPLE
IN THE SOUTH DIDN'T KNOW WHO
GHANDI WAS.
A WELL-RESPECTED, WELL TO DO
WHITE WOMAN, A LIBRARIAN WHO
BEGAN TO INTEGRATE BIBLE STUDIES
IN THE NEGRO COMMUNITY AND WOULD
START TO PULL EMERGENCY STOPS
WHEN BUS DRIVERS WOULD IGNORE
COLORED PASSENGERS.
JULIETTE MORGAN LIKENED KING'S
MOVEMENT TO GHANDI AND SHE WROTE
THE NEWSPAPERS TO SAY SO.
AS A RESULT OF HER PEN, THE
ENTIRE SOUTH AND MANY PEOPLE
WORLDWIDE BEGAN TO ACKNOWLEDGE
GHANDI'S PHILOSOPHY ON
NONVIOLENT SOCIAL CHANGE.
MORGAN WROTE "IT IS HARD TO
IMAGINE A SOUL SO DEAD, A HEART
SO HARD, A VISION SO BLINDED AND
PROVINCIAL AS NOT TO BE MOVED
WITH ADMIRATION AT THE QUIET
DIGNITY, DISCIPLINE AND
DEDICATION WITH WHICH THE
NEGROES HAVE CONDUCTED THEIR
BOYCOTT."
UNFORTUNATELY, THEY BECAME A
VICTIM OF CROSS BURNING, WAS
HARASSED BY THE RACIST COMMUNITY
UNTIL HER UNTIMELY DEATH.
FREEDOM CONTINUES TO BE A COSTLY
FIGHT.
AS WE PAUSE TO REMEMBER MAMIE
TILL, PARKS AND MORGAN, HUMANITY
IS JUXTAPOSED AGAINST THE
INHUMANTY OF RACISM.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO MARCH FOR
TRUTH, RECOVERING FROM OUR
CASUALTIES.
WE HAVE OPENED CASKETS, USED OUR
PENCE, STOOD UP AND SAT DOWN.
WE HAVE USED MOMENTS TO LAUNCH A
MOVEMENT.
IN THE SPIRIT OF COL VIN, I HEAR
YOU, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
AS PART OF THIS TRIBE YOU FORM A
REGIMENT FOR TRUTH AND YOU ARE
CAPABLE OF DISCERNING WHAT IS
WRONG AND WHAT IS RIGHT IN THIS
COUNTRY.
WE HEAR YOUR VOICES WHEN BLACK
LIVES MATTERED NOT ONLY MARCHES,
BUT BY HOUSES TO RENOVATE FOR
LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.
WE HEAR YOU WHEN YOU TAKE TO THE
PODIUM AND CHALLENGE THE
NATION'S GUN LAWS BECAUSE YOUR
BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND
CLASSMATES HAVE BEEN KILLED.
WE SEE YOU WHEN YOU VOTE.
KING SAID "HE WHO PASSIVELY
ACCEPTS EVIL IS AS MUCH INVOLVED
IN IT AS THE ONE WHO PERPETRATES
IT."
"HE WHO ACCEPTS EVIL WITHOUT
PROTESTING AGAINST IT IS REALLY
COOPERATING WITH IT.
AS WOMEN, MEN AND CHILDREN WE
MUST NOT COOPERATE WITH EVIL.
WE MUST CHALLENGE EVIL IN ORDER
TO DESTROY IT.
TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR. WAS QUESTIONED
ABOUT HIS SUPPORT OF RESTON'S
HOMOSEXUALITY.
HE LED PROTEST MARCHES IN THE
UNITED STATES DURING THE '40s
AND WORKED TO BETTER THE
CONDITION OF THE UNTOUCHABLES IN
INDIA.
KING WROTE WE ARE COMMITTED TO
THE METHOD OF NONVIOLENCE IN OUR
STRUGGLE AND HIS COMMITMENT IN
THIS AREA WILL BE OF IN ES
ESTEEMABLE VALUE.
AS WOMEN WE WERE NOT RESPECTED
IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CIVIL
RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
YET AS WE MARCH NOW, WE MARCH AT
A DIFFERENT TIME, WHEN ONE OF
OUR CHALLENGES IS TO FULLY
RESPECT ONE ANOTHER.
WE WILL HAVE DIFFERENCES.
OUR GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE
TRIBE, NO THE TO ALIENATE
OTHERS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
I SAY THIS KNOWING THAT IT WILL
BE HARD FOR SOME OF US TO ACCEPT
OTHERS OF US.
WHILE UNDERSTANDING AND
FRIENDSHIP OCCURS ONE HEART AT A
TIME, LET'S AGREE THAT ALL OUR
HUMAN RIGHTS MUST BE FOUGHT FOR
AND RESPECTED.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WHEN THE 116TH CONGRESS
CONVENED ON JANUARY 3, 132 WOMEN
FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE HAD
AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THEIR
SEAT.
AND WHILE THAT'S 24% OF THE
POPULATION OF WHICH WOMEN MAKE
UP 51%, WE ARE MOVING DOWN WHAT
ACTIVISTS AND OUR LATE QUEEN OF
SOUL CALLED BETTER THAN EVER
STREET.
FOR MANY STATES, THESE WOMEN ARE
THE FIRST WOMEN TO TAKE SEATS IN
OUR CONGRESS.
THEY ARE BLACK, WHITE, SOMALI,
NATIVE AMERICAN.
THEY WILL SERVE AND THEY WILL
IDENTIFY AS VETERAN, OPENLY
BISEXUAL, GAY, MARRIED, DIVORCED
AND SINGLE.
THEY WILL BE SO YOUNG, AT 29,
THAT MAYA ANGELOU WOULD HAVE
CALLED HER NEW AS MORNING.
AND THEY WILL SERVE WITH
VETERANS SUCH AS MAXINE WATERS,
WHOSE 40 YEARS OF CONGRESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE IS WELL-RESPECTED.
THEY ARE CHRISTIAN, JEWISH,
CATHOLIC AND MUSLIM, CAREER
POLITICIANS, FORMER STEWARDESTS,
ONE HAVING LOST BOTH LEGS IN OUR
MILITARY, ANOTHER A SON TO
VIOLENCE ON THE STREET.
THEY ARE BREAST CANCER
SURVIVORS.
THEY WILL JOIN MEAN I MEN IN CONGRESS.
THEY WILL MAKE MISTAKES.
THEY WILL STUMBLE.
THEY WILL NOT BE THE FIRST NOR
THE LAST TO DO SO.
BUT WITH UNDERSTANDING, WE MUST
SHOULDER THEM UP BECAUSE WE ARE
THEIR KEEPERS AND WE MUST MARCH
ON ALL FRONTS.
WHEN AVA DIRECTED SEL SELMA, SHE
OPENED THE FILM WITH THE GIRLS
KILLED IN THE BOMBING.
WHEN SHE DIRECTED TAKING ON THE
13TH AMENDMENT AND VOTER
SUPPRESSION THROUGH THE LACK OF
EX-CON VICTS HAVING VOTER
RIGHTS, WE ARE WITNESSING THE
RIGHT OF FORMER CONVICTS TO VOTE
IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> OUR VOICES HAVE BEEN RAISED
WITH THE ME 2 MOVEMENT THAT
BURKE BEGAN.
AS BLACK, BROWN AND WHITE WOMEN,
WE ARE STANDING UP AGAINST
SEXUAL PREDATORS IN THE
WORKPLACE.
MY SKIN IS NOT THE BEAUTY OF,
BUT THE BEAUTY OF A LIGHTER HUE.
I AM THREE GENERATIONS REMOVED
FROM SLAVERY.
MY SKIN COLOR DID NOT COME FROM
CONSENSUAL SEX IN THE WORKPLACE.
THE VERY SHADE OF THE BROWNNESS
OF OUR PEOPLE IS OUR SKIN BLOOD
EVIDENCE THAT WE YOUR COUSINS,
WE YOUR KIN, WE YOUR BROTHERS
AND SISTERS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> YOU AND I ARE THE SECOND
WAVE, THE WOMEN OF
ENCOURAGEMENT, CALLING THIS
WORLD TO ACTION, GRANDMOTHERS
WITH GAVELS AND LAW KEEPERS OF
COLOR FROM TEXAS TO NEW YORK.
AS WE INCREASE OUR ACHIEVEMENTS,
WE WILL CHANGE THE LAWS AND
CHANGE OUR EVERYDAY
CIRCUMSTANCES.
THIS IS HOW WE ARE CHANGING THE
WORLD.
AS SOJOURNER TRUTH SAID, TRUTH
IS POWERFUL AND IT PREVAILS.
AS ORDINARY WOMEN, EACH ONE OF
US MUST TAKE MOMENTS IN HISTORY
AND TURN THEM INTO MOVEMENTS
GREAT AND SMALL.
PREVAIL.
AS MAYA ANGELOU SAID, YOU ALONE
ARE ENOUGH.
THAT MEANS TOGETHER WE ARE MORE
THAN ENOUGH.
AS OPRAH WINFREY SAYS, YOU DON'T
GET WHAT YOU GET.
YOU GET WHAT YOU BELIEVE.
BELIEF CAUSES US TO TAKE ACTION.
IN THE LATE '60s IN OUR SOUTH
SUBURBAN CHICAGO HOME I WATCH MY
PARENTS STAND STRAIGHTER WHEN
THEY TALKED ABOUT MARTIN LUTHER
KING, JR.
THEY SAID IT WAS A MINISTER FOR
BETTER HOUSING AND INTEGRATED
SCHOOLS.
LATER AS MY MOTHER SNAPPED BEANS
AT THE KITCHEN TABLE, I HEARD
THEM LAMENT THE FACT THAT OUR
DICK AND JANE READERS FROM FIRST
GRADE FOLLOWED US TO SECOND
GRADE AND NOW WE HAVE THEM AGAIN
IN THIRD GRADE.
THEY HAD BEEN FIGHTING FOR DESEG
RATION FOR TEN YEARS.
TIRED OF OUR SEPARATE BUT
UNEQUAL EDUCATION, NOT IN THE
SOUTH, BUT IN THE SOUTH SUBURBS
OF CHICAGO, OUR BLUE COLOR TOWN
BELIEVED THEY COULD CHANGE OUR
CIRCUMSTANCES.
THEY WORKED TOGETHER, FINALLY
INTEGRATING THE SCHOOLS AFTER
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.'S DEATH
IN 1968.
OUTFITTED IN OUR BEST SCHOOL
CLOTHES AND OUR HAIR SLICK WITH
PEACH POM MADE, WE DREAMED ABOUT
WHAT WHITE PEOPLE WOULD LOOK
LIKE UP CLOSE.
WE PRESENTED OUR JUMP ROPES AS A
GESTURE OF FRIENDSHIP.
OUR PARENTS WAVED US ON TO THE
BUS AND WENT ON TO THEIR JOBS.
BUT OUR BUS ARRIVED TO WHITE
WOMEN AND MEN CALLING US NAMES
WE'D NOT BEEN CALLED BEFORE.
THEY LINED THE WALK TO THE DOOR
OF EISENHOWER SCHOOL AND WE
TREMBLED OUR WAY INTO A PLACE
WHERE WE WERE SUPPOSED TO LEARN.
I TOLD THAT STORY RECENTLY AND
HAD A WOMAN WHO CONSIDERED
HERSELF TO BE LIBERAL ASK DIDN'T
YOUR PARENTS PREPARE YOU?
THAT IS THE MODERN DAY
DEFINITION OF WHITE PRIVILEGE.
AND WHAT JAMES BALDWIN CALLED
THESE YET TO BE UNITED STATES.
IT MEANS A CAR, A COFFEE SHOP, A
DORM OR A HOTEL COULD BE OUR
UNDOING.
THIS ERRANT REALITY IN THE MINDS
OF SOME PEOPLE, THE VERY IDEA
THAT VICTIMS OF RACISM ARE
SOMEHOW RESPONSIBLE FOR IT AND
PERPETRATORS OF RACISM ARE JUST
SIMPLY LIVING LIFE OUGHT TO MAKE
YOU WANT TO PUT YOUR BOOTS ON.
I HAVE A FLYER YOU CAN
DISSEMINATE IN THE WORDS OF
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
THE STORM IS RISING AGAINST THE
PRIVILEGED MINORITY OF THE EARTH
FROM WHICH THERE IS NO SHELTER
IN ISOLATION OR ARM AMOUNT A.
AND YOU TOLD US THE STORM WILL
NOT ABATE UNTIL A JUST
DISTRIBUTION OF THE FRUITS OF
EARTH ENABLES MEN AND WOMEN
EVERYWHERE TO LIVE IN DIGNITY
AND HUMAN DECENCY.
IN RACISM, THE FIRST ATTACK IS
ALWAYS AGAINST DIGNITY AND HUMAN
DECENCY.
AND IT'S NOT UP TO BLACKS ALONE
TO FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM, BUT
FOR WHITES TO RECOGNIZE AND
DENOUNCE PRIVILEGE IN ORDER TO
CREATE CHANGE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> UNTIL BLACK AND BROWN
CHILDREN STOP MARKING THE LOSS
OF THEIR INNOCENCE WITH THE DAY
THAT THEY REALIZED THAT THEY ARE
BEING MARGINALIZED IN THIS
SOCIETY, AND UNTIL WHITE
CHILDREN STOP INGESTING THE
MISPERCEPTION THAT THIS SOCIETY
RENDERS THEM PRIVILEGED AND
BETTER THAN, AND UNTIL WE CARE
FOR BROWN CHILDREN AT THE BORDER
OF MEXICO AS IF THEY WERE IN OUR
OWN ARMS, WE MUST CONTINUE TO
MARCH OUT OF DARKNESS
[APPLAUSE]
>> AS WE ACKNOWLEDGE MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR.'S COMMITMENT TO
HIS FAITH, WE START SIMPLY WITH
THE FIRST WORDS OF THE BIBLE."
IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED."
THOSE WORDS MEANING THAT ALL OF
US BORN IN THE IMAGE OF GOD ARE
FIRST AND FOREMOST CREATORS.
WE ARE AS THE MOTHERS OF THE
CHURCH SAID ABLE TO MAKE A WAY
OUT OF NO WAY.
WE CAN LOOK INTO NOTHING CHAOS
AND ALL MANNER OF DARKNESS,
CONFUSION AND THE UNDEFINED
BEFORE US AND KNOW EVEN IN OUR
CHILDHOOD THAT WE CONSTITUTE
CHANGE.
SO THE YOUNG BOY THAT WOULD
LATER WALK BY TREES WHERE THE
BODIES MUC OF NEGROES HAD HUNG, WHO
HAD WITNESSED POLICE BRUTALITY
WITH HIS OWN EYES AS WELL AS AS
SEEING THE KU KLUX KLAN RIDE AT
NIGHT, HE KNEW HE HAD SEEN
CHAOS.
I HAD COME CLOSE TO RESENTING
ALL WHITE PEOPLE.
I WANT TO ISSUE YOUR UNIFORMS
FOR THE MARCH WITH THESE
INSTRUCTIONS.
YOU CAN MARCH WITH PASSION, BUT
YOU CANNOT MARCH EFFECTIVELY
WITH RESENTMENT.
HAD MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
RESENTED WHITES, WE WOULD NOT BE
HERE.
HAD HE BEING ECONOMICALLY SECURE
AND WELL-EDUCATED HAD NOT HAD A
HEART FOR THE POVERTY-STRICKEN
REGARDLESS OF COLOR, WE MIGHT
NOT BE HERE.
YOUNG KING KNEW THE BIBLE STORY
OF HATE THAT KILLED A BROTHER.
WHEN CAIN KILLED ABEL HE WAS
ASKED BY GOD WHERE IS YOUR
BROTHER.
KING MADE A DECISION TO LOVE
BECAUSE HE KNEW HATE CAUSES YOUR
SOUL TO BE QUESTIONED BY GOD.
AND THE LIE YOU TELL YOURSELF
AND OTHERS BY SAYING "I DON'T
KNOW" CALLS YOU TO HAVE THE
ARROGANCE TO QUESTION GOD.
ABEL'S FUTILE "AM I MY BROTHER'S
KEEPER" IS THE RESPONSE.
WE ARE ALL OUR BROTHERS AND
SISTERS KEEPERS.
THE FINAL QUESTION HE ASKED IS
THE QUESTION WE ALL MUST ASK
OURSELVES." WHAT HAVE YOU
DONE?"
SO I ASK YOU, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE
TO BRING ABOUT JUSTICE?
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ERADICATE
RACISM?
DO YOU AS A PERSON, A
GOVERNMENT, A CORPORATION
INCLUDE AND VALUE BLACK AND
BROWN PEOPLE IN YOUR THOUGHT AND
MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING PROCESS?
HAVE YOU HIRED US IN YOUR FIRMS,
YOUR STORES, MADE SPACE IN THE
SCHOOL AND ADMINISTRATION?
HAVE YOU ASKED THE QUESTION IN
YOUR COMMUNITY OR EDUCATIONAL
SYSTEM WHEN YOU WALK INTO
SEGREGATED SITUATIONS, WHY DOES
THIS COMPANY, THIS SCHOOL, THIS
GUILD, THIS UNION, THIS
FOUNDATION NOT LOOK LIKE THE
WORLD?
ASK QUESTIONS.
MAKE CHANGES.
HAVE YOU PERSONALLY GONE PAST
THE OPTICS OF DIVERSITY TO
INCLUSION?
JUST AS WE ARE EACH OTHER'S
KEEPERS, EACH OF US CAN AND MUST
DO SOMETHING, SINCE SILENCE HAS
A VOICE.
WHEN CANI FAILED TO ANSWER THE
QUESTION "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE,"
GOD SAID, LISTEN, YOUR BROTHER'S
BLOOD CRIES OUT FROM THE GROUND.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT IF
TRUTH IS MARCHING, I HEAR BLOOD.
400 YEARS AGO IN 1619, WHEN THE
SOULS OF MY ANCESTORS' BLOODY
FEET STILL IN SHACKLES TOUCHED
AMERICAN SOIL, THEY UNDERSTOOD
IT WAS A SHAMEFUL ENTRY.
THEY KNEW THAT THERE WAS NO
BEAUTY IN SHACKLES, NOTHING
PRECIOUS ABOUT THE KIND OF CHAIN
THAT HANGS AROUND THE NECK OF A
MAN, A WOMAN OR A CHILD.
IT IS THE SHACKLE THAT STILL
COMES WHEN ONE BROTHER BELIEVES
HE IS BETTER THAN ANOTHER, WHEN
A SISTER OR BROTHER STILL KILLS THE
DREAMS OF THIS COUNTRY AND PUTS
LASHES ACROSS THE SOULS OF HIS
BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
THOSE ANCESTORS, THEIRS WERE THE
FIRST STEPS IN TRUTH MARCHING,
AND OUR TASK IS TO MAKE SURE
TRUTH ARRIVES.
IN 1955, AFTER BEING EDUCATED AT
MOOREHOUSE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY,
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND HIS
WIFE MADE A PRAYERFUL DECISION
TO RETURN WITH THEIR FAMILY TO
THE HATE-FILLED SOUTH INSTEAD OF
STAYING NORTHEAST WITH HOPES FOR
A BETTER LIFE.
WHEN MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WAS
CALLED TO ALABAMA TO THE DEXTER
AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH, I BELIEVE
HE HEARD BLOOD.
WHEN I WORKED WITH MAYA ANGELOU
FOR OPRAH RADIO FROM 2006 TO
2010 WE WOULD OFTEN DISCUSS HER
RELATIONSHIP WITH MARTIN LUTHER
KING, JR.
SHE SAW HIM SPEAK AT RIVERSIDE
BAPTIST CHURCH IN NEW YORK IN
THE '60s AND WAS MOVED TO
ORGANIZE ARTISTS IN THE
COMMUNITY TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE
SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP
CONFERENCE.
SHE WOULD LATER BECOME THEIR
NORTHERN COORDINATOR.
SHE REMEMBERED KING FONDLY AS A
MAN WHO LIKED TO PLAY PRACTICAL
JOKES AND HAD A HEALTHY SENSE OF
HUMOR.
IN 2006, MAYA ANGELOU AND I
ATTENDED THE CEREMONY FOR THE
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL
IN WASHINGTON D.C.
LATER, MAYA ANGELOU TOOK ISSUE
WITH THE INSCRIPTION ON THE
MONUMENT TAKEN FROM A SPEECH HE
GAVE TWO MONTHS FROM TO HIS
ASSASSINATION.
IT ORIGINALLY READ IF YOU WANT
TO SAY THAT I WAS A DRUM MAJOR,
SAY THAT I WAS A DRUM MAJOR FOR
JUSTICE, FOR PEACE, FOR
RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL OF THE
OTHER SHALLOW THINGS WILL NOT
MATTER.
BUT THE INSCRIPTION ON THE
MONUMENT READ "I WAS A DRUM
MAJOR FOR JUSTICE."
MAYA ANGELOU FOUND THE MISSION
OF IF YOU WANT TO SAY
OBJECTIONABLE AND SO I GOT A
PHONE CALL.
MAYA ANGELOU HAD A HABIT OF
CALLING AND SAYING, IT IS I,
MAYA ANGELOU, AS IF I WOULD EVER
MISTAKE HER VOICE.
AND I WOULD SAY, HELLO, DOCTOR.
ON THIS DAY SHE SAID, PEOPLE ARE
MAKING A BIG DEAL OVER SOMETHING
THEY SAY I SAID REGARDING
MARTIN.
I SAID, WHAT WAS THAT?
SHE SAID, THEY SAID I SAID THE
INSCRIPTION ON THE MONUMENT IN
D.C. MADE HIM SOUND LIKE AN
ARROGANT TWIT.
I SAID, HMM.
I DON'T KNOW ANYONE ELSE THAT
WOULD PUT THOSE TWO WORDS
TOGETHER.
THEY SAID, OKAY, I SAID IT.
NOW WHAT DO WE DO?
I SAID, SPEAK TO THE MEDIA.
SHE SAID, I WILL NOT BE A
TEMPTRESS IN A TEAPOT.
THEN I SAID CHOOSE WHO YOU WILL
SPEAK TO.
SHE SAID I'LL HAVE THAT YOUNG
DON LEMON.
I LIKE HIM VERY MUCH.
AND ONE MORE, NOT ANOTHER.
AFTER THAT, THE TRUE MIGRATIONS
BEGAN BECAUSE THE INSCRIPTION ON
THAT MONUMENT WAS CHANGED.
WHAT WE DO AS WOMEN IS
IMPORTANT.
WHATEVER THE STRENGTH OF YOUR
VOICE, YOUR REACH OR YOUR
ABILITY, LET'S USE THE POWER
THAT WE HAVE.
I SEE YOU.
I SEE YOUR TIREDNESS AS WELL AS
SOME OF YOU YOU THAT HAVE THE
JOY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND LOVE.
I SEE YOU SINGLE, DIVORCED,
MARRIED.
I SEE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
ABUSED.
SOME OF US ENTERING THE THICK OF
OR FRESH OUT OF A STORM.
BUT KNOW THAT ALL OF YOUR GOOD
AND ALL YOUR BAD ONLY QUALIFY
YOU TO MARCH.
AS YOU MARCH, YOU WILL FIND OUT
MORE ABOUT YOURSELF AND WE WILL
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT EACH OTHER
AS HUMAN BEINGS.
AS I STAND HERE, I THANK MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR., WHO COULD HAVE
BEEN 90 YEARS OLD AND ENJOYING
HIS GRANDCHILDREN, BUT INSTEAD
HE SACRIFICED HIS LIFE.
I THANK MY DECEASED FATHER,
CHARLIE, AND MY 96-YEAR-OLD
MOTHER WILLIE FOR RAISING ME, A
BLACK CHILD, IN WHAT WAS THOUGHT
TO BE A WHITE AMERICA.
I AM REMINDED THAT MY MOTHER'S
FATHER WAS BORN INTO SLAVERY AND
HE WAS TAUGHT TO READ BY TWO
WHITE WOMEN THAT DECIDED TO
BREAK RANK WITH THE NORM OF
THEIR DAY.
WHEN HE BECAME FREE AT EIGHT
YEARS OLD, HE CONTINUED TO READ
AND TO STUDY.
HE WAS KNOWN AS AN ORATOR AND
EVENTUALLY HE WOULD SPEAK IN THE
BLACK CHURCH ON THE FIRST AND
THIRD SUNDAY AND TEACH SUNDAY
SCHOOL AT THE WHITE CHURCH TO
CHILDREN ON THE SECOND AND
FOURTH SUNDAY.
I THANK THOSE TWO PEOPLE I WILL
NEVER KNOW.
IT IS IN THEIR SPIRIT THAT I
STAND HERE.
AS MAYA ANGELOU WOULD SAY, I
COME AS ONE AND I STAND AS
10,000.
MAY THE ANCESTORS BE PLEASED
WITH OUR TIME TOGETHER.
AS TRUTH MARCHES, I AM PROUD TO
BE A MEMBER OF YOUR TRIBE.
I SEE YOU.
I JOIN YOU.
I HEAR BLOOD, EVEN LOUDER, I
HEAR YOUR VOICE.
LOUD OLOUDER STILL, I HEAR YOUR POWER.
LOUDEST OF ALL, I HEAR OUR
FUTURE AND OUR FUTURE IS THE
TRUTH.
THANK YOU.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> ALL RIGHT NOW.
RITA COBURN, THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
AND NOW, PRESENTING AN ADAPTED
EXCERPT FROM DR. KING'S 1963
SPEECH, "I HAVE A DREAM," HERE
ARE 7TH GRADE STUDENTS JADA
MATSON, CHELSIE USCANGA AND
TADARIA ROSS, ALL FROM JAMES C.
WRIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOL IN MADISON,
WISCONSIN.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> PLEASE WELCOME THE MIDDLE
SCHOOL SCHOLARS DREAM TEAM.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND EVEN SO, WE FACE THE
DIFFICULTIES OF TODAY AND
TOMORROW, I STILL HAVE A DREAM.
IT IS A DREAM DEEPLY ROOTED IN
THE 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 ON
THE RED HILLS OF GEORGIA THE
SONS OF FORMER SLAVES AND THE
SONS OF FORMER SLAVE OWNERS 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 INJUSTICE, 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 THE CONTENT OF
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;
ONE DAY RIGHT THERE 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 EXALTED,
AND EVERY HILL AND MOUNTAIN
SHALL BE MADE LOW, THE ROUGH
PLACES WILL BE MADE PLAIN, 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, AND THIS IS
THE FAITH THAT I 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 STAND
UP FOR FREEDOM TOGETHER, KNOWING
THAT WE WILL BE FREE ONE DAY.
AND THIS WILL BE THE DAY WHEN
ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN WILL BE
ABLE TO SING WITH A NEW MEANING,
"MY COUNTRY, 'TIS OF THEE, SWEET
LAND OF LIBERTY, OF THEE I SING.
LAND WHERE MY FATHERS 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.
AND SO LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE
@HAMPSHIRE.HILLTOPS OF NEW
LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE MIGHTY
MOUNTAINS OF NEW YORK.
LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE
HEIGHTENING ALLEGHENIES OF
PENNSYLVANIA!
LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE
SNOWCAPPED 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 LOOKOUT
MOUNTAIN OF TENNESSEE!
LET FREEDOM RING FROM EVERY HILL
AND MOLEHILL OF MISSISSIPPI.
FROM EVERY MOUNTAINSIDE, LET
FREEDOM RING.
AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS, WHEN WE
LET FREEDOM RING FROM EVERY
VILLAGE, EVERY HAMLET, EVERY
STATE AND EVERY CITY, WE WILL BE
ABLE TO SPEAK OF 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 NEGRO SPIRITUAL, FREE AT
LAST, FREE AT LAST, THANK GOD
ALL MIGHTY, WE ARE FREE AT LAST
SCHAM
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[STANDING OVATION]
>> THE JAMES C. WRIGHT MIDDLE
SCHOOL DREAM TEAM.
YES, YES.
DID YOU CALL ME?
I'M SORRY.
>> WE'D LIKE TO MEET THE
GOVERNOR.
[LAUGHTER]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WELL, WE CAN SAY WE KNEW THEM
WHEN.
GIVE THEM ANOTHER HAND.
WRIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOLARS
DREAM TEAM.
HERE TO PRESENT THE OFFICIAL
STATE PROCLAMATION HONORING
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.,
AGAIN, WISCONSIN GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS.
>> ONE OF THOSE GREAT KIDS OR
MAYBE ALL THREE ARE GOING TO BE
GOVERNOR SOMEDAY.
LET'S MAKE THAT HAPPEN!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR OF
PRESENTING TO THE SWI STATE OF
WISCONSIN THE PROCLAMATION.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE A PORTION OF
THAT WITH YOU AT THIS TIME.
WHEREAS WISCONSIN HOSTS THE
OLDEST OFFICIAL STATE CEREMONY
CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND WORK OF
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING AND THE
THEME OF THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATION
IS "TRUTH IS MARCHING" NOW
THEREFORE I, TONY EVERS,
GOVERNOR OF THE GREAT STATE OF
WISCONSIN TO HEAR BUY PROCLAIM
MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2019 AS THE
REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING,
JR. DAY THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN AND I COMMEND THIS
OBSERVANCE TO ALL OF OUR
CITIZENS.
THANK YOU.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, GOVERNOR EVERS.
AND NOW, AS HAS BEEN FOR 38
YEARS, WE'VE ALWAYS DISTRIBUTED
THIS THROUGH THE AUDIENCE, AND
TODAY IS NO EXCEPTION.
AND EVERY TIME IT HAS ALWAYS
COME BACK.
SO IS THERE SOME SOUL WHO WOULD
LIKE TO COME AND RETRIEVE?
OKAY.
COME ON, CUVMENT O COME ON.
TAKE YOUR TIME.
THIS IS LIVE TELEVISION.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUSH ANYTHING.
HI.
HOW ARE YOU?
YOU'VE DONE THIS BEFORE, I
THINK.
HERE IS THE PROCLAMATION OF
WISCONSIN GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WELL, FRIENDS, AS WE CLOSE
TODAY'S PROGRAM, I'D LIKE TO
THANK OUR SPONSORS,
PARTICIPANTS, PRODUCTION STAFF,
VOLUNTEERS, ORGANIZERS, DAIS
GUESTS, OUR GUEST SPEAKER RITA
COBURN.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I SUBMIT THAT DR. KING JUST
MIGHT SAY TODAY THAT ENGAGING
TRUTH TAKES COURAGE, SO WE
SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID.
RATHER THAN REACT TO THE STALE,
MYTHICAL IDEA THAT WE ARE TO
FEAR THOSE WHO ARE DIFFERENT,
RESPOND AND SHARE WITH THEM THAT
UNDERSTANDING THOSE WHO ARE
DIFFERENT MAKES OUR NATION A
BETTER NATION.
REMIND THEM, AS RITA COBURN
SAID, TRUTH IS MARCHING.
ASK THEM TO JOIN YOU, TO WALK
WITH YOU TOGETHER.
THEN WE SHOULD, WE WILL
OVERCOME.
IN THAT LIGHT, LET US STAND
TOGETHER SHOULDER TO SHOULDER
BEFORE WE DEPART THIS PLACE,
SINGING THAT CELEBRATED SONGING,
"WE SHALL OVERCOME."
* WE SHALL OVERCOME
* WE SHALL OVERCOME SOMEDAY
* OH, DEEP IN MY HEART, I DO
BELIEVE *
* THAT WE SHALL OVERCOME
SOMEDAY *
>> COME ON, EVERYBODY, LET'S
SING IT ONCE AGAIN.
* WE SHALL OVERCOME
* WE SHALL OVERCOME SOMEDAY
* OH, DEEP IN MY HEART, I DO
BELIEVE *
* THAT WE SHALL OVERCOME
SOMEDAY *
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> DEAR FRIENDS, THAT CONCLUDES
WISCONSIN'S 39TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE
AND CEREMONY HONORING THE
REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, I'M
JONATHAN OVERBY.
MAY YOUR WEEK BE FILLED WITH
PEACE AND HARMONY.
TAKE CARE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
*
* BOUT MY JESUS AND HIS LOVE
* JESUS
* I ASKED MY MOTHER, HOW CAN I
KNOW THIS MAN *
* DON'T YOU KNOW, DON'T YOU SEE,
YOU GOT TO BE BORN AGAIN *
* GOT TO BE BORN AGAIN
* WELL, YOU MUST HAVE, YOU MUST
HAVE *
* THE HOLY GHOST
*
* YOU KNOW THAT I'M FREE
* FREE FROM SIN
* I BEEN BORN AGAIN
* LONG AGO I DIDN'T KNOW
NOTHING *
* BOUT MY JESUS AND HIS LOVE
* JESUS
* I ASKED MY MOTHER, HOW CAN I
KNOW THIS MAN *
* DON'T YOU KNOW, DON'T YOU SEE,
YOU GOT TO BE BORN AGAIN *
* GOT TO BE BORN AGAIN
* WELL, YOU MUST HAVE, YOU MUST
HAVE *
* YOU MUST HAVE, YOU MUST HAVE
* THE HOLY GHOST
* HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
*
[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]
* LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HOLY
* HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
* FIRE, FIRE, FIRE, FIRE
*
[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]