2MLK2024HDLIVE TRANSCRIPT

[Latino Arts Strings Program Mariachi Juvenil Grandes Lagos performs “España Cañi" by Pascual Marquina Narro]

§ §

§ §

[applause]

>> Welcome! Good 
>> Good afternoon!

>> All right! My name is Vanessa McDowell-Atlas, and I am the CEO of YWCA Madison, and I am excited to be here today with all of you, and I have the privilege and the honor of introducing a governor who sees us all. So, help me welcome Governor, Wisconsin Governor, Tony Evers.
[cheers and applause]

>> Good afternoon, everybody, and thank you, Vanessa, for that kind introduction. It's my pleasure to help welcome you today to the Wisconsin state capital for the 43rd annual tribute and ceremony honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. To kick off today's program, I’d like to first recognize and thank Dr. Overby and the entire 2024 MLK State Planning Group for their hard work that went into putting on this tremendous, tremendous event. Also like to thank today's outstanding musical performers and guest speakers for their participation and role in making this year's ceremony memorable. 

And to everybody here with us today are watching across the great state of Wisconsin, thank you for joining us as we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As one of the nation's oldest celebrations in the country, I am honored to be able again to participate this year as your governor. Today, we remember Dr. King's tireless fight for equal rights for all people and reflect on how his legacy still lives on across Wisconsin, across the country, and across the world. 

The theme of this year's ceremony, "One Day" reminds us of Dr. King's dream for our country that one day we will realize a future where everybody is treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve, that one day we will be able to overcome the social and cultural divides that divide us, and that one day, our nation will stand tall as a beacon for equality, where every individual and community is represented, understood, and supported. Not only are these sentiments what fuel Dr. King's fight for justice over a half century ago, but these are values we share right here in Wisconsin. 

Still as we celebrate what would have been Dr. King's 95th birthday, we are also reminded that there is much work left to be done to address the discrimination, the prejudice, the inequality, and injustice that are nevertheless deeply entrenched in our society and institutions. 

So what can we do? Whether it's by investing in measures to address persistent health disparities that exist in our state or by fully and meaningful funding our public schools to ensure that every student can succeed, no matter of their zip code, or by connecting the dots between access to affordable housing, child care, transportation, opportunities to advance in the workforce, economic mobility, and more, we can build the sort of future we all want to see for our state. 

In celebrating Dr. King, we recommit ourselves every day to these important goals, to finding the things that unite us rather than divide us, and to the values we hold dear. I look forward to continuing this important work together, in 2024 and beyond, as we look to one day achieve that future that Dr. King envisioned for us. So, thank you, and now, with that, it is my distinct pleasure to present this proclamation-- and I will find it right here-- present this proclamation to Dr. Overby, recognizing today as martin Luther King, junior 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. Jonathan?
[cheers and applause]

§ §

>> Hey, how about this, huh? Hello, everyone, good to see you. Oh, I got to get my script-- just one second here-- you know, you folks braved these temperatures today, and I got to tell you, for 42 years, this has been about the coldest day of the year here. I don't know... 43 now. I don't know why. It's not me, just in case anybody wants to know, but I’m glad to be here because this-- look! When you look around this room, everybody, this is the most culturally inclusive view that you're going to get in this capital any time of the year. Come on, now, let's get real!
[applause]

Governor?

>> Yes, sir.

>> First lady, Kathy, good to see you. 

And I got to just say this as we celebrate Dr. King's dream that one day we will be free is that there's a good chance when you look around this room, you're going to see someone that looks like you, thinks like you, comes from a place that maybe you come from. There's a spirit of good community in this room that gives me great joy and I hope it does for you because this is a chance for you to stand, greet each other in the spirit of good community and maybe, if you have a few extra dollars, you could share those with somebody who looks pitiful near you. Just look around. They have a sad look on their face, reach into their pocket in the spirit of Dr. King.
[laughter]

And give them... All right, just give it to me, and I’ll see that they get it.
[groaning]

Amen! Would you stand and greet each other? And I want to thank our music director, Maestra Becca may grant. Give us a little celebratory music to kick off today's program! § § all right. Today's program includes more music by the Mariachi Juvenil Grandes Lagos ensemble with conductor Maestra Dinorah Marquez. Give them a big round of applause for opening our program today.
[applause]

>> And, oh, they look good! The Chicago Mass Choir. They got really early and they made it here. This is their third time being here. They're going to bring you music a little bit later on. And that's a long distance to travel. 

We have people coming from Milwaukee, Chicago, northern Wisconsin to be here with you today, gathered to celebrate the spirit of Dr. King. Dr. King said that justice is best served in the spirit of love. Correcting everything that stands against love and we have much to correct. These pointed words authored by Dr. King, they should inspire us all to action today, to reduce our negative perceptions of each other and to reach out, figuratively speaking across the aisle, to reduce fear, which s gripping our nation, indifference and this deep-seated hatred for people just because they look different. This has got to stop. 

So I say to you today let us celebrate each other in the spirit of Dr. King, as we, the people of Wisconsin, gather people of Wisconsin, gather to celebrate not only him, but those that have suffered from the shackles of hatred, marginalization, people who are immigrants who want to come here because they see a better opportunity, women who are still trying to crack the glass ceiling. We must shed this fear of resentment for those who want to love somebody just because they want to love them. So I say to you so I say to you all today here in Wisconsin, as Dr. King said, let us develop and maintain a spirit of love. Amen? Amen! All right.
[applause]

And now, if you would please remain seated, as flutist Frank Montano offers today's invocation. Mr. Montano is a Red Cliff tribal member, a performing artist, a flute maker. He's dedicated to preserving the traditional values of Indigenous First Nation people of our great state through storytelling and teaching. Here is Frank Montano.
[applause]

[speaking Ojibwemowin/ Anishinaabemowin]

§ §

[applause]

[applause]

>> And now, I invite you to stand as we take a moment to reflect on the tragic end of Dr. King's life at the tender age of 39. He and so many others gave their lives that one day we who stand here would be free. We're joined by the Joint Army Air Color Guard, Prince Hall Masons of Wisconsin, and the 2nd Isthmian Highlanders who honor those who pay tribute for freedom and justice with their lives.

§ §

[processional of color guard]

§ §

§ [playing "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes and drums] §

§ §

>> Present, guard.

§ [playing "Taps" on trumpet] §
[Presentation of Arms]

Order, guard! Dismissed.
§ [recessional of Color Guard] §

>> Thank you. Now, do you know the home and birthplace of traditional gospel music? Do you know where that is? I do. And I’m delighted that we are not only going to get a taste of it, but some real soul food, today from the Chicago Mass Choir. Please give them a big hand. With Dr. Feranda Williamson leading this organization for so many years. Give it up for them! Chicago Mass Choir.

["I can go to the rock" by Percy Gray]

§ When everything else fails me §
§ I can go to the rock §
§ When troubles around me §
§ I can go to the rock §
§ You see, God promised that he would keep me §
§ If I abide in his holy word §
§ No matter what the problem §
§ I can go to the rock §
§ When everything else fails §
§ I can go to the rock §
§ When trouble's all around me §
§ §
§ I can go to the rock §
§ See, my God promised that he would keep me §
§ If I abide in his holy word §
§ No matter what the problem §
§ I can go to the rock §
§ I can go to the rock §
§ Oh, I know Jesus §
§ My waymaker §
§ He makes a way each and every day §
§ No matter §
§ What the problem §
§ I can go to the rock §
§ I can go to the rock §
§ Oh, I know Jesus, §
§ Jesus, my heart fixer §
§ When I am sad §
§ He makes me glad §
§ No matter §
§ What the problem §
§ I can go to the rock §
§ I can go to the rock §
§ Yeah, I know Jesus §
§ My waymaker §
§ Say Jesus, he's my waymaker §
§ Say Jesus, he's my waymaker §
§ Jesus, he's a strong tower §
§ Yeah, I know that Jesus §
§ He's a strong tower §
§ I say Jesus, he's a heart fixer §
§ I know that Jesus §
§ I say Jesus, he's a heart fixer §
§ I can go §
§ Yes I can §
§ To the rock §
§ I can go §
§ I can go to the rock §
§ To the rock §
§ I can go to the rock §
§ My Jesus §
§ I can go to the rock §
§ I can go §
§ Yes I can §
§ I can go to the rock §
§ Jesus, my strong tower §
§ I can go to the rock §
§ He won't leave me §
§ Go to the rock §
§ He won't leave me §
§ He won't forsake me §
§ No matter what the problem §
§ No matter what the problem §
§ Go now §
§ No matter what the problem §
§ No matter what the problem I can go to the rock §
§ I can go to the rock §
§ Yeah §
[cheers and applause]

["praise Jehovah" by David Whitley]

§ Praise Jehovah §
§ The King of Kings §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ You're my everything § § from the rising of the sun §
§ Till the going down of the same §
§ §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ The great I am §
§ Oh § § praise Jehovah §
§ He's the God who moves the planet§
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ He's our [inaudible] and our God §
§ From the rising of the sun §
§ Till the going down of the same §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ The great I am §
§ Enter his gates §
§ With thanksgiving §
§ Enter his courts with praise §
§ Be thankful unto him §
§ And bless his name §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ [vocalizing] §
§ Oh, oh, praise Jehovah §
§ Every knee shall bow §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ Every tongue shall confess § praise Jehovah §
§ Everything, everything, everything [inaudible] §
§ Every knee shall bow §
§ Every tongue shall confess §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ [vocalizing] §
§ Yeah, praise §
§ From the rising of the sun §
§ Oh §
§ Till the going down of the same §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ [vocalizing] §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ Alleluia §
[cheers and applause]

§ §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ Praise Jehovah §
§ Alleluia §
§ Alleluia... § 

Bless your name, Jesus!

[cheers and applause]

>> All right. Come on, I know you can do better than that! Chicago Mass Choir.
[cheers and applause]

>> That's all right. Say, fellas, give me a little instrumental of the guys. Yeah. All the guys in the band. I want to thank you for playing today, for being here, getting up so early. Appreciate you. And y'all good.
[cheers and applause]

>> All right. Chicago Mass Choir. They will be back. It's time for the first presentation of the 2024 MLK Heritage Award. Lisa Jones is the recipient this year. And she is the executive director and the lead organizer Of Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope, or MICAH. It's a multiracial interfaith organization committed to addressing justice issues in the community of Milwaukee. That's my hometown, so there's some work to be done, I know, for sure. I love Milwaukee. And -- oh, yeah. That's all right.
[applause]

>> I went to Rufus King High School.
[whoops]

Where did you go, sir? Where did you go? What school? Did you go to high school in Milwaukee, anybody?

>> Milwaukee Tech.

>> Milwaukee Tech? Oh, I can't talk to you.
[laughter]

>> Anyway, back to Sister Jones. She works diligently in all avenues of her life for racial justice and equality with a forum series titled "Conversations on Race." and in the Milwaukee metro area as the co-chair of RID Racism Milwaukee. I thank her for being here today and for her good work and for her mission to secure alternatives to just sending folks to jail when there could be some other pathway to their recovery and their rehabilitation, if you will.
[applause]

>> So, it's my pleasure... Come on! On behalf of the office of governor tony Evers, I am pleased to announce that Lisa Jones is the recipient of the Wisconsin 2024 MLK heritage Award.
[cheers and applause]

[applause]

>> Wow! Thank you so much, Governor Evers, and the selection committee, and those who nominated me. I was like, where did you get that description of me and all the things that I’ve done? But somehow someone knew me and I really appreciate that. This reminds me of the lessons that my parents taught me. My mother's no longer here with us, but I remember sitting with my mom and dad, watching tony brown's journal. How many people remember tony brown's journal?
[applause]

And all the justice work and all the things. So it really formed me in who I am, and so I am grateful for the work that God has called me to do in this state representing the faith community for the loving community for an oppression-free world!
[cheers and applause]

I am so grateful for that!
[cheers and applause]

And I know that God keeps calling all of us, and I know that this is MICAH's 35th year. In 1988, clergy came together to create MICAH and so for 35 years, MICAH has been doing this racial justice work in Milwaukee and in the state and united states. We're an affiliate of wisdom. And that theme today, one day. I believe in that one day, because Dr. King believed in that one day. He believed in an oppression-free world where we are all healthy, we are all spiritually and mentally healthy and we have everything we need. So maybe there will be one day when we don't need food pantries because everybody will have the food that they need. Everybody will have a job.
[applause]

We will have alternatives to all these systems of oppression. And I would just like to leave you with just a couple of quotes. And this is where -- one of the best quotes I remember, why I do this work. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. So when sibling is hurting, that means you hurting, too. And then, this is one of my best quotes I love from him. And he said this: "If you lose hope somehow, you lose the vitality that keeps moving. You lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all." 

And so today, I still have a dream. Let us all remember to keep answering Dr. King's call that one day, one day, we can get that permanent, beloved community without oppression. One day. Thank you.
[applause]

§ §

>> Well, from Milwaukee, once again, here is the national again here is the national award-winning latino arts strings program established at the united community center in Milwaukee, created and directed today by Dinorah Marquez and designed to serve as a pre-college music training program for latino students. And it provides them with instruments, music materials, individual lessons, small group, and larger orchestras. And this mariachi ensemble is one of the finest to come out of our country. Maestra Marquez now leads once again the Mariachi Juvenil Grandes Lagos. Please give them another welcome.
[applause]

§ [singing "La Llorona" in Spanish] §
§ §
§ Salías del templo un Día Llorona cuando al pasar yo te vi §
§ Salías del templo un Día Llorona cuando al pasar yo te vi §
§ Hermoso huipil llevabas Llorona qué la virgen de te creía §
§ Hermoso huipil llevabas Llorona qué la virgen de te creía §
§ No sé qué tienen las flores Llorona las flores del campo santo §
§ No sé qué tienen las flores Llorona las flores del campo santo §
§ Qué cuando las mueva el viento Llorona parecen qué están llorando §
§ Qué cuando las mueva el viento Llorona parecen qué están llorando §
§ §
§ Dos besos llevo en alma Llorona qué no so apartan de mi §
§ Dos besos llevo en alma Llorona qué no so apartan de mi §
§ El ultimo de mi madre Llorona y el primer qué te di §
§ El ultimo de mi madre Llorona y el primer qué te di §
§ Ay de mi Llorona Llorona Llorona de azul celeste §
§ Ay de mi Llorona Llorona Llorona de azul celeste §
§ Y aunque la vida me cuesta Llorona no dejare de quererte §
§ Y aunque la vida me cuesta Llorona no dejare de quererte §
§ §
[cheers and applause]

§ ["La Bikina" by Ruben Fuentes, arr. Dinorah Marquez] §

§ §

§ §
[cheers and applause]

>> It is time now for the presentation of our next MLK Heritage Award. Since 2012, Dr. Daniels has led growth, innovation, and accessibility to Madison College. His tenure includes completing the buildout of Madison College's campuses, instructing the Goodman South Campus, increasing creative partnerships to benefit students, establishing a corporate training center, and creating Madison College's STEM Center and many other wonderful contributions of building places where people can go to learn. He's created more of a welcoming climate on campus and increased the faculty of color. This is a part and a small part of his rich legacy to this community. On behalf of the office of governor tony Evers, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Jack E. Daniels III, president of Madison college, is a recipient of the Wisconsin 2024 MLK Heritage Award.
[cheers and applause]

>> I’m speaking on behalf of Dr. Jack E. Daniels III. First, thank you for the 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Heritage Award. I'm so sorry I’m not able to be with this this afternoon. I'm deeply honored and appreciative of this recognition. I share this recognition with every aspect of our community and Madison College. I'm thankful to this community for its support providing critical input and friendship. But what is key is our collaborative efforts to make change. Collaboration is best to make critical change and keeping us accountable is key to ensuring that the change evidences itself and is sustainable. 

My focus since I arrived over ten years ago is to understand the community need and institute key interventions to meet the need. Though many see goodman south campus as representative of meeting that need, it comes through loud and clear the success of our students that we do listen to the community and respond in a way to acknowledge and respect their needs. This has been the greatest accomplishment: listening and respecting the needs of every community we touch in our 12-county area. And it couldn't have happened without community support and a college that is focused on serving communities and the needs of all students.

It would also not happen without the support of our board, the leadership of my stand-in today, Francis Huntley-Cooper, who has provided board leadership the majority of my tenure. I truly accept this award on behalf of everyone in this community who commit themselves to making critical change in our community to improve the community's quality of life with the defined intention to engage each and continue to make interventions that make this community and the state better in addressing its needs. Thank you, Dr. Daniels.
[cheers and applause]

>> Now, before we move on, I don't know if you know who that was. I should have introduced her, but I assumed everyone knew Francis Huntley-Cooper.
[applause]

>> yeah. And just a little history for you. Or should I say, “her story?” She is the first African American mayor woman in the state of Wisconsin.

>> yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
[cheers and applause]

>> Just major. She wanted to make sure that it's right. I know I’m going to hear about that later. Well, as we move on, they're here, they look good. Yeah. Who is it? What is it?

>> Let me just introduce. 'Cause you messing up. Let me just say that it's all right to clap your hands. It's all right to stand. Because we have the Chicago Mass Choir in the house.
[cheers and applause]

>> I am a believer in Jesus Christ and I’m going to tell you right now I’m going to be clapping. You're about to hear from our pastor, so we about to set it up, all right? So Chicago Mass Choir, bring us on in!
[cheers and applause]

§ [Chicago Mass Choir performs "Jesus Promised"] §

>> Clap your hands, everybody.
[clapping]

§ Oh, how wonderful it is §
§ Jesus promised he'll take care of me §
§ Oh, how marvelous it is §
§ Jesus promised he'll take care of me §
§ Oh, how wonderful it is §
§ Jesus promised he'll take care of me §
§ Oh, how marvelous it is §
§ Jesus promised he'll take care of me §
§ I don't have to worry about the things ahead §
§ All I have to do is live right §
§ And believe in what he said §
§ I can call him in the morning §
§ I can call him in the middle of the night §
§ And when I call him §
§ He'll make everything all right §
§ It does not matter §
§ It does not matter §
§ How big the problem may be §
§ Jesus promised he'll take care of me §
§ Jesus promised he'll take care of me §
§ I don't have to worry about the things ahead §
§ I don't have to worry about the things ahead §
§ I don't have to worry about the things ahead §
§ I don't have to worry about the things ahead §
§ All I have to do is live right §
§ All I have to do is live right §
§ All I have to do is live right §
§ All I have to do is live right §
§ All I have to do is live right §
§ All I have to do is live right §
§ All I have to do is live right §
§ And believe in what he said §
§ I can call him in the morning §
§ I can call him in the middle of the night §
§ And when I call him §
§ He'll make everything all right §
§ It does not matter §
§ How big the problem may be §
§ Jesus promised he'll take care of me §
§ I can call him in the morning §
§ I can call him in the morning §
§ I can call him in the morning §
§ I can call him in the morning §
§ I can call him in the morning §
§ I can call him in the morning §
§ Jesus promised he'll take care of me §

>> Somebody make some noise!
[cheers and applause]

[Chicago Mass Choir performs "He Is a Wonder"]

>> Clap your hands, everybody. Come on. Come on.

§ I heard about how he healed the sick §
§ He is a wonder §
§ He is a wonder in my soul §
§ I heard about how he raised the dead §
§ He is a wonder §
§ He is a wonder in a soul §
§ I heard about how he calmed the sea §
§ He is a wonder §
§ He is a wonder in my soul §
§ It was a Friday night he delivered me §
§ He is wonder §
§ He is a wonder in my soul §
§ Healed the sick, raised the dead §
§ Five thousand souls he fed §
§ He did it before §
§ He can do it again §
§ He is wonder in my soul §
§ I heard about how he healed the sick §
§ He is a wonder §
§ He is a wonder in my soul §
§ I heard about how he raised the dead §
§ He is a wonder §
§ He is a wonder in a soul §
§ I heard about how he calmed the sea §
§ He is a wonder §
§ He is a wonder in my soul §
§ It was a Friday night he delivered me §
§ He is wonder §
§ He is a wonder in my soul §
§ Healed the sick, raised the dead §
§ Five thousand souls he fed §
§ He did it before §
§ He can do it again §
§ He is wonder in my soul § 
§ Healed the sick, raised the dead §
§ He is wonder in my soul §
§ He can do it again §
§ He is wonder in my soul §
§ I tried him §
§ I know him §
§ I’ve seen him do it §
§ He's a wonder §
§ I tried him §
§ I know him §
§ I’ve seen him do it §
§ He's a wonder §
§ I tried him §
§ I know him §
§ I’ve seen him do it §
§ He's a wonder §
§ I’ve seen him do it §
§ I’ve seen him do it §
§ I’ve seen him do it §
§ I’ve seen him do it §
§ I’ve seen him do it §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He is wonder in my soul §
§ He's a wonder §
§ Yes, he's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ Redeemer §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
§ He's a wonder §
[cheers and applause]

>> All right!
[cheers and applause]

>> Clap your hands. I say clap your hands. §
§ He is wonder §
§ He is wonder §
§ He is wonder §
§ He, he is §
§ He is wonder §
§ He is wonder §
§ He is wonder §
§ Yes, he is §
§ He is wonder §
§ Yes, I tried]

§ Never failed me §
§ He is wonder §
§ In my soul §
§ He is wonder §
§ He is wonder §
§ He is wonder §
§ He is wonder §
§ I see him every hour §
§ I see him every minute §
§ He's a wonder §
[cheers and applause]

Yes!

>> That's their new single, "He Is a Wonder." Their brand-new single. Yeah. Sister Williamson, I ask y'all to take us to the mountaintop.

>> yeah!

>> I didn't say nothing about heaven. You went there and it was wonderful. Thank you, musicians, singers. Thank you very much. Appreciate you.
[applause]

>> And they look good, too, don't they?

>> All right. It is time to introduce our guest speaker today, the reverend Dr. Marcus Allen, Sr., pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Madison, Wisconsin. Dr. Allen joined Mt. Zion in October of 2016, after serving honorably in the United States Army for over ten years. During his military service, he completed three, I said three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and received the bronze star medal, one of the highest military honors awarded in the United States Armed Forces for their members.
[applause]

>> Go ahead. It's all right.
[applause]

>> He earned a doctorate in ministry from liberty Baptist theological seminary and a Master of Divinity at Virginia union university. He serves in many ways: adjunct professor at the university of Dubuque, president of the African American council of churches and he and his wife terra, who I have personally heard him refer to her not only as his wife, but his girlfriend. I'm telling the truth. I heard it. And I just wanted to repeat it publicly. They have three beautiful children: Alexandrea, MeKyah, Marcus, Jr. And there's much more to say. But he asked me, he said, “Dr. O., why me?” And I just said, "It's your time." And I now ask you to welcome the reverend Dr. Marcus Allen, Sr.
[cheers and applause]

>> Well, the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. The world and all they that dwell therein. For he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. Lift up your heads, lift up you gates. Lift up you everlasting doors. And the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts. He is the King of Glory. 

Truly I count it a privilege and an honor and a joy to be before you today. I want to say thank you to Governor Evers and first lady Evers and to all the government officials who are here today. She has been a wonderful host for us. And she's a representative for where our church is located. To all the dignitaries on the dais, God bless you. To Dr. Jonathan Overby, thank you for allowing me to be the keynote speaker of this wonderful event.
[cheers and applause]

>> I am grateful to be able to serve the best church in the world, mt. Zion Baptist church here on the south side of Madison. Thank you all so very much for being with me today. And if you hear a lot of yelling from this side, I’m pretty sure it's coming from my mother. Amen. She is my superhero. I am because she is. And so I’m so thankful for her. Amen. Give me mom a big hand and clap of praise.
[applause]

>> Amen. My mother-in-law, Connie Cook, is here with us. My aunts are here. My brother, my niece, my cousins all the way over there. Amen. They're here with us tonight and I am so grateful for all my family, friends, bass to pastoro much. And to the love of my life, my girlfriend on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and my wife Monday through Thursday, Miss Terra Allen. Amen. Thank you for your continued support.
[applause]

>> And the love which you give me to be the best man that I can hope to be. So my oldest daughter Alexandrea she is not with us tonight. She had a baby, amen, on Wednesday. And so I’m going to try my best to spoil that child, amen, as a grandfather. That's what I want to be called. Not papa. Call me grandaddy. Amen. And to M.J., Marcus jr., my only begotten son, who I am well pleased and to my baby girl, Miss MeKyah Allen. Amen. Thank you so much for being here in support. 

When I became the pastor of mt. Zion Baptist church in October, event to attend. To this- I was under the assumption that it would be a meeting in a small conference room with only a few people in attendance. It was very slippery outside because of the ice on the ground. Somehow this is normally the coldest day. And so I took my time getting here. 

When I arrived to the second floor, I was shocked to see how many people were in attendance. But good things our Delta Ladies were the ushers, and many of them were members of my church. And because I was here in the nick of time, they were able to get me directly to my seat. And so I want to tell them thank you and to Carla and collide. They've been our hosts these last couple of days. Thank you to them. And let me commend the state of Wisconsin for being one of the first to honor this giant of a man, the liberator of our people, the drum major for justice, the reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And has continued to honor this hero for 43 years no matter who has been the governor of this state. Give yourselves a round of applause.
[applause]

>> Around 2014, my wife and I were debating where should we move because we had small children and our children needed a grandmother to help us raise them kids. And while attending a conference, I was informed in Virginia that mt. Zion Baptist church was looking for a pastor. I applied and somehow I became the pastor of this great church. When I arrived, I was informed that mt. Zion has always been a pillar in the community for African American people. This church has been around. In May, it will be 113 years. 

The church's voice has been amplified when it comes to social justice and demanding social equality for all. As a matter of fact, Dr. King's father visited Mt. Zion and when bishop Desmond tutu came to town, it was one of his stops. In 1960 it was asked to move to Fisher Street where it now resides. The pastor at that time told the mayor that he desired for the church to be in the heart of the community. If you know where we are located, you will agree because we are not off a main road. We are tucked in by Penn Park. 

But our love for the community radiates and illuminates our area by providing help, aid and support to anyone who is in need. For over 30 years we have had a full pantry feeding families. We've an academic learning center where we provide kids kindergarten through 5th grade with educational support and attempt to close what Dr. Billings called the opportunity gap with our Black students. Last year we were extremely proud of Dion Johnson, Jr. Our staff worked with him and he did an amazing job reading the "I have a dream" speech boldly and proudly and many of us stood with tears in our eyes because we knew how far he had come from. 

In 2020, we may have closed the doors of our church, but we went to work. Our food pantry was in overdrive. We took food to families that surrounded our church. We opened what we called the school without walls, allowing students to use our wi-fi and provided them with tutors. We partnered with Dane county to lead a mentorship program to help children, youth who are aging out of foster care, and opened our facility to our older adults to come and socialize and learn how to use computers. In October 2020, we partnered with a family therapy and now we have a free drop-in behavior health clinic at our church.
[applause]

>> October 2021, we started a program that we call try, transform and reaching our youth, where we go into the juvenile detention center and provide mentorship to the children who are there. We've also partnered with the badger football team in which they send their football players to go with us to talk to these youth. Mt. Zion is a church of action, love and justice, and due to our programs only being supported and funding by the generosity of our members, we decided to start a charitable organization, a separate 503c that we formed that we may have a greater impact in our community. In 2020 we paid off the mortgage of our church. Amen.
[applause]

>> And our church is now debt-free and Black folks fully own one of the largest buildings on the block.
[cheers and applause]

>> And currently we are starting a capital campaign to build a family life center on the south side of Madison to be able to house our programs and better serve the Madison community. Again, I am excited to be the speaker of this event today. And as I receive the theme for this event, I was torn as to which way to talk about it. I believe that the theme of "one day" is a powerful statement, but it depends on how it is presented. "One day" can be what I call faith talk, where you are expecting something great to happen one day. And your actions today are pushing you towards that one day. Or "one day" can be deceptive talk, which causes you to settle for what you receive today because you suggest I will get it one day. 

"One day" can be used as a vision caster for something greater, more beneficial for your life. Or "one day" can lead to apathy where you become satisfied with the results of today and fail to prepare for that one day. I believe for some "one day" has paralyzed our ability to produce justice, equality, and freedom. They have settled for the crumbs of today, expecting things to get better one day. We have decided that the work of a better day is too hard for today, so we put it off as a distant hope and declare we'll get it right one day. This type of understanding of "one day" has crippled many communities who have leaned and depended on the promises of leaders who told them that one day, but it seems as if one day continues to drift farther and farther away. 

Promises of equality in education, but yet still Black children are not learning at the same rate of their counterparts. I know there are different contributing factors to this, but for the longest no one was able to explain to me why. A few years ago I was a guest speaker at one of our high schools and I asked the students when did they think was the reason for the 2019 ford exam results where only 14% were proficient in math. One child raised her hand and suggested it was because when they need help, Johnny gets the help he needs. But when Pokey is in need, he does not get the same support, acts up, and is kicked out of class. But educational justice for many we declare we'll get it right one day. The promises of health care improvement may have been explained as one day.

A few years ago I was in a class at Marquette university receiving a certificate in pastoral leadership and cultural context and the president of children's hospital in Milwaukee stated if you move ten blocks, your life expectancy gains eight to ten years. In April 2020, my mother was severely sick at the onset of Covid-19, when no one really understood what was going on. No testing was available, and hospitals were trying their best to keep people from overcrowding waiting rooms. My mother called 911, had a temperature of 103 and had a bad cough. But after being examined by the paramedics, they left her in her home. It's a shame I had to call on everyone I knew in power just to get my mother some medical aid. And it made me even more upset because as I was on a zoom call with a clergy person from Oconomowoc, she informed me that she only had a mild cough. Primary care gave her a test immediately and my brother— mother couldn't breathe, but she couldn't get medical support. I wonder if it's because of her zip code.

Many just say we will get it right one day. It pains me to know that some African American service members who stood on the battlefield for the freedom of this country and the flag came back home not to parades and celebrations, but to racism and hate. They had earned benefits for housing, but were unable to buy homes where they wanted to. An unfair housing practice has crippled the African American community from gaining generational wealth in this country. And to this day, banks are still using these unfair practices by either denying Black people from getting loans or charging them higher interest rates than white counterparts.

Yet still someone is proclaiming the theme of today. One day we'll get it right. Tell us to settle for what we have and hopefully we'll get it right one day. It's a shame that society has become more concerned about offending white students when teachers teach about the cruelty Black people have endured in this nation. It's pitiful that I was never taught in public school about Black Wall Street, where in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Black people were self-sustained and wealthy and they witnessed the first terrorist group to attack and bomb Americans in America. And it is ridiculous that people are attacking diversity equity and inclusion, but refuse to implement laws to remove guns from the hands of those who continue to shoot innocent children in schools and malls and even in safe places.
[applause]

>> No, no, no, no. I don't want to look at one day as a maybe. But we should look at one day as a guarantee and operate today hoping that one day can be today. And June 17, 1966, Martin Luther King gave a speech declaring that there were only three words that he wanted to state to America to prove that they were serious. The first word was "all." We don't want some of our rights. We want all of them. His second was "here" stating that he did not want to move from the south in order to experience these rights. He wanted those rights in Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. His last word is what I want us all to focus on today. His last word was "now." He did not have time to settle for the statements like you will get it right, your rights, one day, but he declared we want them now. And this is my charge to all who are listening today, that now is the time for justice and equality.
[cheers and applause]

>> Now, I wouldn't be a Baptist preacher if I didn't leave you with some scripture. In the gospel of john chapter 9 in verse 4 Jesus declares I must work the works of him who hath sent me while it is day. The night is coming when no man can work. Here in this particular story Jesus is informing us all that we don't have all day and the time to work is used metaphorically while the sun is up, for when the sun goes down, this life is over and no man or woman can work. To get the picture of what Jesus may be saying in this verse, picture a hard-working farmer in the days before modern farm machinery. 

The farmer would rise up early in the morning to take advantage of every moment of the day, every minute of daylight, cultivating his crop, for when the harvest would come. He knew that night would come, so he worked all day long. And when the night came, he rested well. Well-deserved rest for his diligence in the daylight. He knew that if he was going to have a crop to harvest, he must work di diligently every waking minute because time was short and he did not have all day. And just as the farmer knew he was to make the most of every moment of daylight, we are to make the most of the time that we have down here so ensure one day becomes a reality and not a dream that does not come to pass.
[cheers and applause]

>> We can't wait for one day. We must be committed to today and use the phrase "one day" as an obtainable vision. The president of the Greater President Urban League displays this motto of “one day” as a vision, building the Black business hub that will help create more Black business owners in Dane county. I know he hopes to increase more Black homeowners with his first-time homeowners programs that allow Blacks generational wealth. Dr. Billings with her tireless work in improving the education of Black and brown children. Vanessa McDowell is making sure “one day” becomes a reality for women who are trying their best to stand on their own two feet. 

KALEEM CAIRE HAS DECLARED “ONE DAY” WITH THE START OF ONE CITY SCHOOLS IS a prime example that God has something greater for you. When people deny you and can't understand your initial vision. 

Dr. G. Has blown the trumpet of “one day,” teaching others about Black history and allowing all to know that Black history is American history.
[cheers and applause]

>> Dr. Jack Daniels refused to turn “one day” as to be used for apathy when he decided to build MATC campus on the south side of Madison, starting a renaissance in our community. 

Sheila Stubs was the first Black representative in the state from Madison, after being racially profiled while campaigning. 

Carla Gaines' impact on our community helped, her eagerness to “one day” ensure that we all receive fair and equitable treatment in healthcare. 

Barack Obama and Kamala Harris rejected the call of “one day” and settling for today but used one day to become the first Black president and vice president of these united states of America.
[cheers and applause]

>> To all the people who have been resilient in this nation, despite unfair treatment and hate, to all new know their self-worth and not searching for affirmation outside of who you are, thank you for using one day as a vision and not a crutch. As I mentioned earlier, visiting the juvenile center was an idea I wanted to make happen to help youth develop some form of vision. If they could see themselves beyond their current state, maybe they would try to make better choices. 

And I’m often looking at my own life, growing up in the hood of Milwaukee, on 12th and north avenue, the 53206 zip code. My mother was a single, uneducated Black woman trying to raise four boys by herself. I never had great aspirations from what I saw because all I saw was my mother working hard at Wendy’s. But to watch her go and get her GED and then get an associate's degree but neglect to walk across the stage to get her own diploma to watch me get mine, her hope for one day has helped me experience one day today!
[cheers and applause]

>> One day. One day. My hope today is that someone will hear this message and say I can make it today because my one day is going to happen. And in a letter from the Birmingham jail, Dr. King declared time is neutral. It can be used destructively or constructively. More and more, I feel that the people of ill will have used much more effectively than have the people of goodwill. We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and the actions of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people. Human progress never rose on the wheels of ineligibility but it comes from the tireless efforts of men willing to be co-workers of God. Without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation. 

We must use time creatively and the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do what's right. Today can be one day, but it requires all of us to understand that work is required to build bridges and contribute all of ourselves to help elevate the oppressed and the downtrodden. We have to work together to ensure that our children have the same opportunities as everyone else. We have to engage fervently in discovering meaningful ways to improve the economics of our communities that are poor. We need to take pride in what we have, who we are and where we've come from. And I plead with you all today not to allow one day to cause apathy or complacency, but use today to work diligently to produce the one day we envision to have unity, equity and freedom. 

Dr. King in his final speech on the mountaintop declares like anyone, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And he's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over and I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land. And I’m happy tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord. And to the state of Wisconsin, I am confident, as Dr. King was, that the vision of one day is going to allow us to push harder today, that we may be able to get to that one day, which is the promised land. And if I was in my sanctuary, I’d look at my crowd and say weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
[cheers and applause]

§ §

>> In the history of this event, and those of you who have been coming for years, you're aware that we've had some big-time, as they say, stars and international folks. But isn't it funny how sometimes right in your own backyard...
[cheers and applause]

>> The light shines bright on the reverend Dr. Marcus Allen.
[cheers and applause]

>> It is my pleasure to introduce to you once again the latino arts strings program with Maestra Marquez and the Mariachi Juvenil Grandes Legos ensemble.
[applause]

§ §

[instrumental music]

[cheers and applause]

>> Here today to read an excerpt from Dr. King's 1963 speech "I have a dream" is Alaya McMillen. She likes video games, chapter books about solving crimes, going to church with her dad, singing in the choir, hanging out with her little brother and family, going to school. She likes her quiet time to herself, she writes. Enjoys her dad's cooking, making people laugh, riding her bike in the summer, watching movies, and getting her hair done. Which makes her feel pretty like a little princess. And please note this. One of the things that Alaya wants to be when she grows up is a police officer. Give her a welcome, Alaya McMillen.
[applause]

>> Good afternoon.

>> Good afternoon.

>> I am 11 years old and I will be reading part of martin Luther King's speech, so let me just get on started. 

So even though 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 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 exalted, 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. 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. 

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 fathers died, land of the pilgrims' 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 prodigious 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 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, and when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village 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 negro spiritual: free at last. Free at last. Thank God almighty, we are free at last.
[cheers and applause]

>> Great job! Proud of you, girl!

>> Can we give her one more round of applause? It takes a lot to do that. She did a great job!
[applause]

>> Okay. Uncle Johnson gave me the role to introduce the choir. I'm for hire to introduce y'all if y'all need me. I just want to let y'all know that we have had a wonderful time. Do you all agree? This has been a great celebration of Dr. King.
[applause]

>> And we had a great word from our pastor today. Thank you so much for your words.
[applause]

>> And we just want to ask the Chicago Mass Choir to take us out.

>> All right!
[applause]

§ [Chicago Mass Choir singing] §

§ He that believeth on the father and the son §
§ Shall have an everlasting life §
§ I’ve got it, everlasting life§
§ I’ve got it, everlasting life§
§ I’ve got it, everlasting life§
§ I’ve got it, everlasting life§
§ I’ve got it, everlasting life§
§ I got it, yeah §
§ I got it §
§ Put your hands together §
§ If you know you got it §
§ Yes, I got it §
§ Yes, I got it §
§ Oh, yes, I got it, yeah. § yes, I got it §
§ Yes, I got it §
§ He that believeth §
§ Shall have an everlasting life §
§ He that believeth §
§ Shall have an everlasting life §
§ He that believeth §
§ Shall have an everlasting life §
§ Give me my lord §
§ I’m going to walk the streets of gold §
§ Every lasting life §
§ Everlasting life §
§ You got to sing and shout §
§ Everlasting life §
§ Jesus §
§ I’m praying, Jesus §
§ Thank God, all mighty §
§ I’m praising Jesus §
§ Everlasting life §
§ Everlasting life §
§ Everlasting life §
§ He that believeth §
§ Shall have an everlasting life §
§ He that believeth on the father and the son §
§ Shall have an everlasting life §
§ Hallelujah §
§ Life §
§ Oh, yeah §
[cheers and applause]

>> I don't want them to stop. Excuse my voice. But we have to get out of here. And thank you for filling in.

>> Mm-hmm.

>> I’m going to do something about my voice. I don't know what, but I gotta say to you, I’m going to give whatever I can for us right now to sing our closing song, "We Shall Overcome One Day." and it's going to take work, right? Hard work. And I am placing in the hands of my adopted niece, Vanessa McDowell-Atlas, to take on a bigger role, to stand like I’ve stood for so many years. I think she'd bring a refreshing touch to this program.

>> Yeah!
[cheers and applause]

>> So she's a talented musician and I hope you'll welcome here as we move forward to 44. But let's stand together and sing that timeless song "We Shall Overcome." one day. Thank you to all those who made the program possible. To the wonderful musicians.
[applause]

>> I just want to say this is not a plaything. This is not entertainment. It's edification.

>> Teah.

>> And to remind us that we have an obligation to each other as a community to lift each other up today. The journey of Chicago mass getting up at 4:00 in the morning to get here, and the mariachi ensemble. Our dear Governor Tony Evers hasn't missed one single MLK event. He's been at every one.
[applause]

>> We're in good hands. And I just thank all of those who have been a part of it. And so if you'll join me if "we shall overcome." come on. §
§ We shall overcome §
§ We shall overcome §
§ We shall overcome someday §
§ Oh, deep in my heart §
§ I do believe §
§ We shall overcome someday §

>> Take care. May we be filled with peace and harmony. Take care, everybody. See you next year.
[cheers and applause]

§ We shall overcome §
§ We shall overcome §
§ We shall overcome someday §
§ Oh, deep in my heart §
§ I do believe §
§ We shall overcome someday §
[applause]

§ §
["el san lorenzo"]

§ Quien soy yo para cantarte §
§ Si tú ya tienes un coro §
§ Si tú ya tienes un coro §
§ Quien soy yo para cantarte §
§ § 
§ Quien soy yo para cantarte §
§ Si tú ya tienes un coro §
§ Si tú ya tienes un coro §
§ Quien soy yo para cantarte §
§ Quien soy yo para cantarte §
§ Si tú ya tienes un coro §
§ Si tú ya tienes un coro §
§ Quien soy yo para cantarte §
§ Siento mucho molestarte §
§ Si es mi culpa yo lo ignoro §
§ Solo quiero recordarte §
§ Lo mucho qué yo te adoro §
§ §
[vocalizing]

§ Si me vas a despreciar §
§ No me digas la razón §
§ No me digas la razón §
§ Si me vas a despreciar §
§ Si me vas a despreciar §
§ No me digas la razón §
§ No me digas la razón §
§ Si me vas a despreciar §
§ Yo no pienso renunciar §
§ Venceré a tú cerrazón §
§ Pues nada has de remediar §
§ Rompiéndome el corazón §
§ Ahora si al puro estilo huasteco veracruzano §
§ § 
§ El orgullo me aconseja §
§ Qué te aparte de mi mente §
§ Pero aquí la moraleja §
§ Es qué el amor nunca miente §
§ §