? [GEORGE RAMSEY ON PIANO]
[DR. LAWREN BRIANNA WARE-BOGGS ON VIOLIN]
? [PIANO/VIOLIN SOLO]
??
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> ONE MORE TIME WITH LOTS OF FEELING.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON!
>> EXCELLENT. I'M JENNIFER MNOOKIN, CHANCELLOR
OF UNIVERSITY OF ON BEHALF OF THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN, IT'S MY GREAT HONOR TO WELCOME YOU TO WISCONSIN'S
46TH ANNUAL OBSERVANCE HONORING THE LIFE, LEGACY AND ENDURING
MORAL LEADERSHIP OF DDR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
NOW I INTRODUCE A LEADER WHO HAS AFFIRMED THOSE VALUES THROUGH
SERVICE, INTEGRITY AND A DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A WARM WELCOME
FOR OUR GOVERNOR, TONY EVERS, WHO WILL BE READING AND
PRESENTING AN OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
IT IS AN HONOR TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO WISCONSIN STATE CAPITOL
TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
FIRST I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE DR. OVERBY AND THE ENTIRE 20
2026 MLK STAFF FOR THE WORK THEY PUT IN TO BRING US THIS EVENT
EVERY YEAR. AND GUEST SPEAKERS, WHO ALL MAKE
THIS CELEBRATION MORE MEMORABLE AND MEANINGFUL.
ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THE LOCAL LEADERS, CHANGE-MAKERS AND
COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, INCLUDING OUR MLK HERITAGE AWARD WINNERS
WHO ARE BEING HONORED. DR. KING BELIEVED IN A BRIGHTER
FUTURE WE'RE WORKING TO BUILD TOGETHER, AND I'M GLAD TO BE
THERE TO HELP RECOGNIZE THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE WORKING
TOWARD DR. KING'S VISION EACH AND EVERY DAY.
TODAY, WE REFLECT ON DR. KING'S LEGACY, NOT ONLY HERE IN THE
UNITED STATES, BUT ACROSS THE WORLD AND HIS PROFOUND IMPACT ON
THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR NATION. DR. KING FOUGHT TIRELESSLY FOR
THE EQUAL RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE, AND THIS YEAR'S THEME, THE POWER
OF UNITY, ENCOURAGES US TO REMEMBER THAT THERE'S FAR MORE
THAT UNITES US THAN DIVIDES US. YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE
ARE THOSE IN POWER TODAY WHO CHOOSE TO USE THEIR INFLUENCE TO
ADVOCATE HATEFUL RHETORIC CONTRARY TO THAT BELIEF,
RHETORIC THAT HAS IN MANY WAYS COME TO DEFINE THIS POLITICAL
ERA IN HISTORY. BUT THAT IS WHERE DAYS LIKE
TODAY SERVE AS AN ANCHOR, GROUNDING US IN OUR SHARED
UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER
AND FOCUS ON UNITY RATHER THAN DIVISION.
SO, AS WE CELEBRATE WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DR. KING'S 97TH
BIRTHDAY, WE FOLLOW DR. KING'S VISION FOR OUR FUTURE THAT HAS
ENDURED MORE THAN FIVE DECADES. THAT ONE DAY, WE WILL FULLY
BRIDGE THE DIVIDES THAT HOLD OUR STATE AND NATION BACK.
THAT ONE DAY WE WILL ERADICATE THE DISCRIMINATION, THE PLEDGE,
THE INEQUALITY, THE INJUSTICE THAT REMAINS ENTRENCHED IN OUR
SOCIETY AND INSTITUTIONS. AND THAT ONE DAY, KIDS AND
FAMILIES OF EVERY BACKGROUND DON'T JUST GET BY, BUT GET
AHEAD. AND HIS MOVEMENT STOOD FOR, AND
THEY ARE VALUES THAT WE MUST ALL CARRY FORWARD TODAY.
AND AS WE TAKE ON 2026, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER AS A
STATE TO STAND BY DR. KING'S WORDS AND MAKE HIS VISION A
REALITY THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN. WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE MORE WORK TO
DO, BUT WE ARE RECOGNIZING TODAY THE GREAT EXAMPLES OF HOW FAR
WE'VE COME AND HOW FAR WE CAN GO.
AND NOW WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO
PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO DR. JONATHAN OVERBY RECOGNIZING
TODAY AS THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY THROUGHOUT THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN AND HONORING DR. KING FOR HIS PROFOUND LEGACY
AND LASTING IMPACT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> DR. OVERBY. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, SIR.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
? HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD ? IN HIS HANDS
? HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS ?
? HE'S GOT YOU AND ME AND SISTER ?
SISTER ?
? HE'S GOT YOU AND ME AND SI SISTER ?
[APPLAUSE]
? HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS ?
? HE'S GOT YOU AND ME AND
BROTHER IN HIS HANDS ? ? HE'S GOT YOU AND ME AND MY
BROTHER IN HIS HANDS ? ? HE'S GOT YOU AND ME AND
BROTHER ? ? HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN
HIS HANDS ? ? HE'S GOT THE LITTLE BITTY
BABIES ? ? HE'S GOT THE LITTLE BITTY
BABIES ? ? IN HIS HANDS
? HE'S GOT THE LITTLE BITTY BABY IN HIS HANDS ?
? HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS ?
? SING ALONG WITH ME ? HE'S GOT EVERYBODY IN HIS
HANDS ? ? HE'S GOT EVERYBODY IN HIS
HANDS ? HANDS ?
HIS HANDS ? ? HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN
HIS HANDS ?
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
HEY, EVERYBODY. GOOD AFTERNOON.
GOOD TO BE WITH YOU TODAY. THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I NEEDED TO SEE YOU TODAY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WITH ALL THAT'S GOING ON, I KNOW GOVERNOR EVERS WOULD
TESTIFY TO THIS, THIS IS THE
MOST CULTURALLY INCLUSIVE TIME AT THIS CAPITOL.
LOOK AROUND YOU AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND I JUST WANT TO SAY IT PLAINLY.
INDIFFERENCE, FEAR AND HATRED
ARE RISING -, THE FACT THAT YOU ARE HERE TODAY, THE FACT THAT
UNITY IS UNDER ATTACK, SHOWS US THAT WHEN WE COME TOGETHER, WE
CAN FIGHT AGAINST THOSE STEREOTYPES, THOSE GENERALITIES,
BY BEING TOGETHER TO HONOR THE COMMITMENT NOT ONLY OF DR. KING,
BUT THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHOSE SHOULDERS WE STAND ON TODAY WHO
SACRIFICED SO MUCH FOR OUR FREEDOMS.
WE NOW ENJOY MANY OF THOSE TODAY.
AND SO BEING HERE TODAY IS A TESTIMONY, A LIVING TESTIMONY
THAT SAYS WE WILL NOT FORGET THEM AND WE MUST NOT LET THEIR
STRUGGLE BE IN VAIN.
[APPLAUSE] >> SO I INVITE YOU RIGHT NOW TO
STAND AS WE GATHER AT THE STATE CAPITOL AND SHOW YOUR NEIGHBOR A
SIGN OF GOOD COMMUNITY BY GREETING THEM AND SAYING HELLO,
RIGHT NOW HERE IN THE STATE CAPITOL.
IF EVERYONE WOULD STAND, PLEASE. [COMMUNITY MEMBERS GREETING ONE
ANOTHER]
>> ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY. IF WE COULD -- I KNOW THIS IS A
WONDERFUL TIME TO GET TOGETHER. SOME OF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN EACH
OTHER IN A WHILE, AND SOME OF YOU ARE PLANNING A PARTY, A
SLEEP-OVER, BUT, LOOK, I WOULD LIKE US TO CONTINUE WITH OUR
PROGRAM. THANK YOU TODAY.
AND I'D LIKE YOU TO JOIN ME IN WELCOMING BRENDA CARDENAS, THE
WISCONSIN POET LAUREATE FROM MILWAUKEE, MY HOMETOWN IN CASE
YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT, POET, EDUCATOR AND LITERARY LEADER.
SHE IS A PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF ENGLISH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE, WHERE SHE TAUGHT CREATIVE WRITING AND U.S.
LATINX LITERATURE FOR MORE THAN 35 YEARS.
AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR, AUTHOR OF ANTHOLOGIES.
SCHOLARSHIP, COMMUNITY AND COMPASSION.
PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING WISCONSIN'S POET LAUREATE,
BRENDA CARDENAS.
>> THANK YOU. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.
MY INVOCATION TODAY IS POEM. WHAT DO YOU SAY?
LIKE PROTONS AND NEUTRONS BIND INTO ATOMS
AND THEY INTO MOLECULES, SO WE ARE BOUND
TO ONE ANOTHER. EACH WORD YOU UTTER WILL CHANGE
YOUR NEIGHBOR'S DAY, MAYBE THEIR DESTINY.
EACH SNOWFALL SHE SHOVELS OR MAPLE HE PLANTS
WILL ENSURE YOU WALK, BREATHE, FOR THE AIR YOU EXHALE
IS THE AIR I INHALE. LIKE BIRDS FLYING IN A V,
WE ARE EACH OTHER'S COMPASS. WHO AMONG US
HAS RAISED OUR WONDROUS CHILDREN, EARNED OUR
DIPLOMAS, AUTHORED OUR BOOKS, BUILT OUR BUSINESSES,
ENGINEERED OUR BRIDGES AND BUILDINGS, OR STRUCK
DOWN AN UNJUST LAW ALONE? IF YOU ALONE HAVE MADE YOURSELF,
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE MAN IN OVERALLS WHO
HAULED YOUR GARBAGE AWAY; THE TEACHER WHOSE HAND
HOVERED ABOVE YOURS HELPING YOU FORM EACH OF THE
ALPHABET'S LETTERS; THE MECHANIC WHO SILENCED YOUR
CAR'S GRUMBLE SO YOU COULD DRIVE TO THE DATE
WHO ONE DAY, YOU'D WED? WHAT OF THE NURSE WHO
REDUCED YOUR FEVER WITH A COOL CLOTH?
CÓMO LE AGRADECES Y A LOS FARMWORKERS WHO
HARVESTED LA LECHUGA EN SU ENSALADA, WHO STRUCK AND
STARVED, QUIENES MARCHARON POR MIL MILLAS,
DEMANDING A LIVING WAGE? WHAT DO YOU TELL THE WOMEN
HUNCHED OVER SWEATSHOP MACHINES SEWING THE
SUIT YOU WORE TO THE JOB INTERVIEW THAT LANDED
YOU HERE? THE HUNGER STRIKERS FORCE-FED IN
PRISON SO HALF OF US COULD VOTE? EACH WHO
ABANDONED MONTGOMERY'S BUSES AND WALKED FOR 381 DAYS?
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE ONE FOR WHOM THIS DAY IS
NAMED, HE WHO KNEW WE ARE WOVEN INTO A SINGLE
GARMENT OF DESTINY? WE HAVE YET TO LEARN FROM DOLPHINS WHO
PROTECT WHALES GIVING BIRTH, FROM ELEPHANTS WHO SEARCH IN
TEAMS, RUMBLING AND TRUMPETING TO RETRIEVE THEIR
KIDNAPPED CALVES. SO COME, CIRCLE ROUND OUR SACRED
DRUM; IT IS BUT OUR OWN HEARTS BEATING. FEEL
THE COLLECTIVE EFFERVESCENCE OF CONNECTION.
LINK ARMS AGAINST MY OPPRESSORS, FOR THEY ARE ALSO
YOURS. HELP THEM SEE ANEW; THEN WELCOME THEM
HOME. JOIN OUR MOSAIC, EACH TRANSLUCENT HUE FUSED TO
ANOTHER. SINGERS IN A CHOIR, MY NOTE DEPENDS ON
YOURS, YOURS ON MINE. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND NOW I INVITE YOU TO STAND, AS WE PAY TRIBUTE TO
THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US PAVING
A WAY FOR FREEDOM THAT MANY OF US ENJOY TODAY.
WHAT THEY GAVE CANNOT BE REPLACED, BUT WE CAN REMEMBER,
FROM DR. KING AND ALL OF THOSE WHO BELIEVED IN SOMETHING
GREATER THAN THEMSELVES: THAT TO REACH THE PROMISED LAND THERE
WOULD BE STRUGGLE. SO I'M DELIGHTED TODAY TO PAY
TRIBUTE TO THAT MEMORY. PLEASE WELCOME NOW TODAY THE
GIRL SCOUTS OF THE BADGERLAND, SEAN, OUR PIPER, TRUMPETER AND
THE PRINCE HALL MASONS TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO HAVE COME
BEFORE.
[BAGPIPE PROCESSIONAL] ??
["AMAZING GRACE" BEING PERFORMED]
[PRESENTATION OF COLORS]
??
[APPLAUSE]
[TAPS] ??
[APPLAUSE]
? [PIPER PERFORMING] ??
[HONOR GUARD RECESSIONAL]
[APPLAUSE]
>> IS CASTON STILL BACK THERE? CASTON ATKINS, THE TRUMPETER?
CAN YOU JUST GRAB HIM, PLEASE, WHEREVER HE WENT?
CASTON, PLEASE RETURN, SON. PLEASE.
YES. DID HE RUN AWAY OR...
PLEASE? PLEASE?
CASTON? [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD JOB, CASTON. CASTON?
NO.
THE TORCH IS NOT OVER, PLEASE. ALL RIGHT?
ALL RIGHT. HI.
GREAT JOB. YES.
CASHTON. IS THAT RIGHT?
NICE TIE, BROTHER. YOU'RE 15.
>> YEAH. >> WHAT'S THAT LIKE, BEING 15?
[LAUGHTER] >> GOOD JOB.
>> THANK YOU. >> THE REASON I WANTED TO SAY
YOUR NAME, BECAUSE I FORGOT IT EARLIER AND I DON'T WANT YOUR
PARENTS GETTING ON ME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GIVE HIM ANOTHER HAND, PLEASE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> OKAY. YOU KNOW, MUSIC FOR MANY OF US
HAS BEEN KIND OF THAT SALVE FOR WHEN LIFE IS FEELING ROCKY.
I PUT ON SOME GOSPEL MUSIC OR SOMETHING, JAZZ, RAP A LITTLE
BIT. OKAY.
ANYWAY, I PUT ON SOME MUSIC. TODAY WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE
JUST THAT WITH THE VICTORY TRAVELERS FROM CHICAGO.
THEY EMERGED IN THE 1950s AND CELEBRATED FOR THEIR
HARD-DRIVING GOSPEL STYLE IN THAT TRADITION FROM THE 1960s.
THEY WERE ORGAN ORGANIZED IN 19. PLEASE WELCOME THEM AND GIVE
THEM A BIG WISCONSIN WELCOME. THE VICTORY TRAVELERS.
? FORGIVE ME, LORD ? FORGIVE ME, LORD
? FORGIVE ME, LORDY LORD
? TRY ME ONE MORE TIME ? TRY ME ONE MORE TIME
? I KNOW I'VE BEEN WRONG ? I KNOW I'VE BEEN WRONG
? GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE ? GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE
? FORGIVE ME, LORD ? FORGIVE ME, LORDY LORD
? TRY ME ONE MORE TIME ? TRY ME ONE MORE TIME
? FORGIVE ME, LORD ? FORGIVE ME, LORDY LORD
? TRY ME ONE MORE TIME ? TRY ME ONE MORE TIME
? I KNOW I'VE BEEN WRONG ? I KNOW I'VE BEEN WRONG
? GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE ? GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE
? OH, THEN I'VE BEEN LOOKIN' ? LOOKIN' FOR A BETTER PLACE TO
LIVE ? ? LOOKIN' FOR A BETTER PLACE TO
LIVE ?
? A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE ? LOOKIN' FOR A BETTER PLACE TO
? KNOW THAT I'M LOOKIN' ? LORD, I'M PRAYIN'
? PRAYIN' ? OH, I'M PRAY LYNN
? LOOKIN' FOR A BETTER PLACE TO ? LOOKIN' FOR A BETTER PLACE TO
LIVE ? ? LOOKIN' FOR A BETTER PLACE TO
LIVE ?
? KNOW THAT I'M LOOKIN' ? LOOKIN'
? I'M SEEKIN' ? SEEKIN'
? LORD, I'M PRAYIN' ? PRAYIN'
? LOOKIN' FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE ?
? KNOW THAT I'M LOOKIN' ? LOOKIN'
? LOOKIN' FOR A PLACE TO LIVE ? GOT TO KEEP ON LOOKIN'
? KEEP ON LOOKIN' ? LOOKIN' HERE AND THERE
? TRY TO FIND ME A PLACE TO LIVE ?
? IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE THERE ARE MANY MANSIONS ?
? I TOLD YOU ? HE SAID I'M GOING AWAY TO A
BETTER PLACE THAN WHERE I AM ? ? LOOKIN' HERE AND THERE
? SEARCHING EVERYWHERE ? SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
? I HAVE THE DESIRE ? SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
? THAT I MAY DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD ?
? LOOKIN' FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE ?
? I WANNA BE HOME ? WITH THE LORD
? LOOKIN' EVERYWHERE ? LOOKIN' HERE
? LOOKIN' HERE
? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU ? ONE OF THESE OLD DAYS
? I DON'T KNOW WHEN ? I DON'T KNOW WHERE
? I WANNA SEE HIM ? I WANNA SEE HIM
? YEAH, MY FRIEND ? LOOKIN' FOR A BETTER PLACE
? SEARCHIN' EVERYWHERE ? SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
? BEAUTY IN MY SOUL ? I GOT TO LOOK
? IS THERE ANYBODY HERE ? DON'T YOU WANNA SEE HIM?
? IS THERE ANYBODY HERE ? LOOKIN' HERE
? LOOKIN' HERE
? SEARCHING
? LOOKIN' FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE ?
? YES, I AM ? LOOKIN' FOR A BETTER PLACE TO
LIVE ? ? OOOH
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
? ? WHICH WAY TO GO
? DI? HAVE YOU DECIDED WHICH WAO
GO ? ? WHICH WAY TO GO
? WELL, YOU GOT TO LEAVE ? COME ON
? OOOH ? WHICH WAY
? WHICH WAY TO GO ? HAVE YOU DECIDED WHICH WAY TO
GO ? ? WHICH WAY YOU WANT TO GO
? WHICH WAY TO GO ? HAVE YOU DECIDED WHICH WAY TO
GO ? ? WHICH WAY YOU WANT TO GO
? AHH, YOU HAVE TO LEAVE HERE ? OOOH
? WHICH WAY TO GO ? WHICH WAY TO GO
? JESUS WENT AWAY ? TO A PLACE FOR YOU AND I
? THE BIBLE TELLS ME HE'S COMING BACK AGAIN ?
? HE'S COMING BACK ? YOU KNOW, I WANNA BE READY
WHEN JESUS COMES ? ? WHEN HE COMES
? YOU KNOW, I WANNA BE READY WHEN JESUS COMES ?
? I WANNA BE READY, READY ? READY WHEN JESUS COMES
? I WANNA BE READY, YES, SIR, READY WHEN JESUS COMES ?
? I WANNA BE READY, READY WHEN JESUS COMES ?
? I WANNA BE READY ? I WANNA BE READY WHEN JESUS
COMES ? ? I WANNA BE READY?
? WILL YOU BE READY? ? WE DON'T KNOW THE DAY
? WE DON'T KNOW THE HOUR ? HE'S COMING BACK
? COMING BACK AGAIN ? READY, I WANNA BE READY
? READY ? I WANNA BE READY
? READY ? OH, YOU GOT TO
? YOU SURE CAN, OH, NO, NO, NO ? YOU GOT TO LEAVE, LEAVE
? SO HE CAN COME ? OOOH
? YEAH ? WHICH WAY TO GO
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WAIT A MINUTE. WAIT A MINUTE.
VICTORY TRAVELERS. ? I WANNA BE READY
? WHERE YOU AT? COME ON.
WHERE YOU AT? ? I WANNA BE READY
>> COME ON. ? I WANNA BE
? YES, YEAH >> YOU LOOK TOO GOOD TO JUST GO
OFF STAGE LIKE THAT. COME ON.
? I WANNA BE READY WHEN JESUS COMES ?
? I WANNA BE READY, READY WHEN JESUS COMES ?
? I WANNA BE READY ? GET YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER
? I WANNA BE READY
? READY OR NOT ? I WANNA BE READY
? I WANNA BE READY
? WHEN JESUS COMES ? I WANNA BE READY
? YEAH, YEAH ? YEAH, YEAH
? I WANNA BE READY ? YEAH
? WHEN JESUS COMES ? SURE CAN
? O, YOU GOT TO LEAVE ? YEAH
? YOU SURE CAN ? NO, NO, NO, NO, NO
? HAVE YOU DECIDED WHICH WAY TO GO ?
? WHICH WAY TO GO
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
[LAUGHTER]
>> IT'S TIME FOR OUR FIRST MLK HERITAGE AWARD.
JOHN DONALD JACKSON. SERVED OVER 32 YEARS.
BECAME THE FIRST BLACK FIRE CAPTAIN BATTALION CHIEF, CHIEF
AND LATER OVERSEEING THE PARAMEDIC SYSTEM.
SO COME ON OVER HERE, BROTHER JACKSON.
THIS IS AN HONOR TO GIVE YOU THIS AWARD.
AND I ALSO SEE THAT YOU ARE NORTH DIVISION HIGH SCHOOL
>> THAT'S RIGHT. I'M NOT GOING TO MENTION THE
YEAR, BUT IT'S A LONG TIME AGO. >> LONG TIME.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS TO SAY ABOUT YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS, BUT I
WANT TO APOLOGIZE. I'M FROM RUFUS KING.
SORRY WE BEAT UP ON YOUR FOOTBALL TEAM SO MANY TIMES.
BUT I'M DELIGHTED TO MEET YOU BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR
62 YEARS. 62 YEARS.
>> 64. >> OH, OKAY.
62. I GOT YOUR RESUME.
YOU'RE A LONG-TIME CIVIC VOLUNTEER IN MILWAUKEE FOR YOUTH
PROGRAMS, RECIPIENT OF MILWAUKEE MAGAZINE'S OVATION AWARD,
CAVALCADE OF STARS, LONG-TIME PARTNER AT THE SCHROEDER AQUATIC
CENTER. ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, WHO'S STANDING RIGHT NEAR YOU, I'M
PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE YOU THAT YOU ARE A RECIPIENT OF THE WISCONSIN
2026 MLK HERITAGE AWARD. GO AHEAD AND RECEIVE YOUR AWARD
RIGHT NOW.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO BE VERY SHORT.
AS DR. OVERBY SAID, I CAME HERE AND I'M LOOKING AT THIS CROWD.
THIS IS THE WAY THE COUNTRY SHOULD BE.
IT'S VERY NICE. I LOVE THIS.
I LOVE THIS PLACE! YOU GUYS WENT FROM CLASSICAL TO
GOSPEL MUSIC. YOU GUYS ARE GOOD.
THE LADY I LIVE WITH, THAT'S WHAT I CALL HER.
THAT'S MY WIFE. I ASKED HER WHY THEY GIVING ME
THIS AWARD? AND SHE SAYS 'CAUSE YOU DO A LOT
OF THINGS. I DON'T DO THINGS THAT I DON'T
ENJOY. I DO THINGS THAT MAKE KIDS
HAPPY, MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER, AND IT GIVES ME JOY.
AND IT GETS ME AN AWARD, I WILL ACCEPT IT.
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS AWARD AND LET'S MAKE THIS 364
DAYS JUST LIKE THIS. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> DONALD JACKSON, GIVE HIM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE, PLEASE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> DR. LAWREN BRIANNA WARE-BOGGS JOINS US NOW.
SHE IS A CONCERT VIOLINIST AND TEACHER WHO RESIDES IN
WISCONSIN. WITH GEORGE RAMSEY, HERE SHE IS
WITH A SPECIAL PIECE FEATURING PIANO AND VIOLIN.
PLEASE GIVE HER A NICE WELCOME.
[APPLAUSE]
?
[PIANO AND VIOLIN SOLO] ??
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> DR. LAWREN BRIANNA WARE-BOGGS, SISTER, YOU LOOK
GOOD.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. YOU JUST LOOK GREAT.
PLEASE, ONE MORE TIME.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WELL, OUR NEXT AWARD IS A SHARED AWARD.
MELODY MCCURTIS IS A PROUD MOTHER.
SHE WANTS YOU TO KNOW THAT. SHE SERVES AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF
METCALFE PARK COMMUNITY BRIDGES, ADVANCING SOCIAL JUSTICE AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN MILWAUKEE.
METCALFE PARK WORK IS DESIGNED TO CONFRONT SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES,
WHILE BUILDING COMMUNITY-LED ALTERNATIVES GROUNDED IN DIGNITY
AND SELF-DETERMINATION, ORGANIZING RECLAIMING AND
REPURPOSING LAND AND HOUSING ADVOCACY AND EXPANDING MUTUAL
AID AND ADVANCING REINVESTMENT STRATEGIES THROUGH BOLD
LEADERSHIP. MELODY CONTINUES HELP BUILDING
THE FUTURE METCALFE PARK DESERVES.
DANELL CROSS IS FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF METCALFE
PARK COMMUNITY BRIDGES AND THEIR COMMUNITY-LED DEVELOPMENT
ORGANIZATION IN THE METCALFE NEIGHBORHOOD, WITH 15 PLUS YEARS
OF EBBS EXPERIENCE IN RESIDENT ORGANIZING.
SHE HAS HELPED EXPAND ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOME
OWNERSHIP, FOOD SECURITY, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND
CIVIC PARTICIPATION. SHE'S ALSO THE FOUNDING MEMBER,
A FOUNDING MEMBER OF METCALFE PARK COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM,
WHERE HER EARLY ORGANIZING HELPED SHAPED A RESIDENT-FIRM
FRAMEWORK ROOTED IN SHARED DECISION-MAKING.
HER LEADERSHIP IS ROOTED IN EQUALITY, EQUITY, ACCOUNTABILITY
AND LONG-TERM COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP.
PLEASE WELCOME OUR TWO RECIPIENTS OF THE MLK HERITAGE
AWARD THIS YEAR ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF TONY EVERS.
I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THEIR NAMES: MELODY MCCURTIS AND
DANELL CROSS OF MILWAUKEE, RECIPIENTS OF WISCONSIN'S
2026 MLK HERITAGE AWARD. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WE'RE FIGHTING OVER WHO'S GOING FIRST.
I THINK YOU SHOULD GO FIRST.
>> I THINK THE YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD GO FIRST.
>> OKAY. SO I'M GOING TO ATTEMPT TO JUST
STICK WITH WHAT I WROTE BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WE WAS GOING
SOMEWHERE TODAY. WE WENT SOMEWHERE TODAY.
IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL. IT'S A PARTY UP HERE.
>> YES, IT IS. [APPLAUSE]
>> SO FIRST I WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY, ESPECIALLY MY CHILDREN.
TWO OF THEM ARE WITH ME. MY COMMUNITY, AS I ACCEPT THIS
AWARD TODAY, I'M HONORED BUT I ALSO WANT TO BE CLEAR.
THIS AWARD IS NOT ONLY FOR ME. IT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD WHO ARE WORKING DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO BUILD WHAT
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CALLED THE BELOVED COMMUNITY ROOTED IN
DIGNITY, JUSTICE AND CARE. WE ARE ABOUT UNITY IN ACTION.
DR. KING REMINDED US WHY UNITY IS NOT OPTIONAL.
WE ARE CAUGHT IN A E INESCAPABLE NETWORK OF MUTUALITY.
WHAT AFFECTS ONE AFFECTS US ALL. THARTHAT'S THE TRUTH WE LIVE EVY
DAY. FROM POVERTY, HOUSING EDUCATION,
POLICY, DEMOCRACY AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE JUST TO NAME A FEW.
NONE OF THESE ISSUES STAND ALONE.
WHAT HAPPENS AROUND IS CONNECTED TO WHAT IS HAPPENING AT HOME.
THE SAME FORCES THAT DESTABILIZE NATIONS ABROAD SHOW UP IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS. WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THESE
STRUGGLES, OUR FIGHT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY, WE START TRANSFORMING
SYSTEMS. THE CRISIS OF TODAY ARE THE SAME
ONES DR. KING FOUGHT TO ERADICATE AND WE ALL ARE STILL
BEING CALLED TO FINISH THE WORK. I WON'T PRETEND THIS WORK IS
EASY. THE CONDITIONS WE ARE ORGANIZING
UNDER RIGHT NOW ARE HEAVY. THE PRESSURES ARE REAL.
THE LOSSES ARE REAL. AND STILL WE KEEP SHOWING UP.
FOR THE PAST YEAR, SO MUCH OF DR. KING'S WORK IN THE CIVIL
RIGHTS MOVEMENT THAT HELPED CREATE MY PATH FORWARD HAS BEEN
UNDER ATTACK. BUT TODAY I RECLAIM MLK DAY, HIS
LEGACY AND TEACHINGS. THEY FUEL MINE.
I DO NOT THINK POLITICAL POWER IS AN END.
NEITHER DO I THINK ECONOMIC POWER IS AN END.
THEY ARE INGREDIENTS IN THE OBJECTIVES WE SEEK IN LIFE: A
TRULY BROTHERLY SOCIETY, THE CREATION OF THE BELOVED
COMMUNITY. SO TODAY I ACCEPT THIS AWARD
WITH GRATITUDE AND WITH RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE UNITY IS
NOT A SLOGAN, IT'S A COMMITMENT. UNITY IS WORK.
AND UNITY IS CHOOSING EACH OTHER AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTIL WE WIN.
THANK YOU.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> HI, EVERYBODY. WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW IS
THAT'S MY DAUGHTER AND I'M TAKING FULL CREDIT.
FULL CREDIT! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> LIKE WE SAY, LET THE CHILDREN SPEAK.
IT IS SO MUCH POWER RIGHT NOW IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND I JUST THANK GOD FOR YOU ALL INVITING US HERE, YOU KNOW,
ACKNOWLEDGING OUR WORK. WE DON'T DO IT FOR
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. WE DO IT BECAUSE WE ARE TIED TO
THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THIS CITY.
WE ARE DOING THIS WORK TO SHOW AN EXAMPLE WHAT CAN BE DONE WHEN
ALL PEOPLE COME TOGETHER TO DO WORK, TO LIFT UP FOLKS THAT HAVE
BEEN DENIED, IGNORED AND FORGOTTEN.
THIS WORK SHOULD BE A MODEL ACROSS OUR CITY AND WE ARE
TRULY, TRULY WANT TO SHARE HOW WE LEARN AND HOW WE ARE GETTING
THINGS DONE. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY TOO MUCH.
I THINK MY DAUGHTER HAS SAID ALL OF IT.
I DID WANT TO WARN YOU ALL, BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU INVITE A
PREACHER UP TO A PULPIT, RIGHT? YOU JUST GOT TO BE CAREFUL.
AND THEN YOU START OFF BY POURING IN.
I WAS RAISED IN THE CHICAGO CHURCH.
TODAY ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO SAY IS THAT THIS IS HOW WE
KEEP OUR STRENGTH AND KEEP GOING.
POURING INTO OURSELVES, COMING TOGETHER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT
THAT WE GOT TO KEEP WORKING TOGETHER.
THAT'S HOW WE KEEP MOVING FORWARD IN THESE TRYING TIMES.
I'M GOING TO STOP IT RIGHT THERE.
THANK YOU AGAIN ON BEHALF OF MY COMMUNITY.
WE ARE A VERY SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MAKES THINGS HAPPEN.
MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU AGAIN.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> ALL RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU SLICK.
YOU TRIED TO SNEAK A SERMON IN. BUT THANK YOU.
YOU ARE BOTH VERY WORTHY OF THESE AWARDS.
THANK YOU. GIVE THEM ANOTHER ROUND OF
APPLAUSE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND NOW ONCE AGAIN, THE VICTORY TRAVELERS.
GIVE THEM A BIG HAND, PLEASE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
? TELL IT EVERYWHERE I GO ? YES, BEEN REAL GOOD
? TELL IT EVERYWHERE I GO ? GOD'S BEEN MIGHTY GOOD
? TELL IT EVERYWHERE I GO ? YEAH
? TELL IT EVERYWHERE I GO ? LORD, IT WAS YOU
? I DON'T HAVE NO DOUBT ? LORD, IT WAS YOU THAT BROUGHT
ME OUT ? ? OUT OF SITUATIONS YOU WERE IN
CONTROL ? ? I WANNA TELL THE WORLD THAT
I'M SO THANKFUL ? ? GOD, YOU'RE MIGHTY GOOD
? TELL IT EVERYWHERE I GO ? WELL, YES, YOU BEEN REAL
GOOD ? ? TELL IT EVERYWHERE I GO
? GOD'S BEEN MIGHTY GOOD ? TELL IT EVERYWHERE I GO
? OH, YEAH ? GOD'S BEEN GOOD, TELL IT
EVERYWHERE I GO ? ? WELL, I'M NOT ASHAMED TO LET
THE WORLD KNOW ? ? WHEN I WAS IN TROUBLE, YOU'RE
THE ONE THAT SAVED MY SOUL ? ? I'LL BE YOUR WITNESS AND TELL
EVERYBODY ? ? BECAUSE WITH YOU I JUST CAN'T
HOLD IT IN ? ? TELL IT
? TELL IT HIS GOODNESS AND ALL HE'S DONE ?
? TELL IT ? I TELL YOU, I WATCHED HIM MAKE
A WAY OUT OF NO WAY ? ? I TELL YOU
? TELL IT ? WELL, I GOT TO TELL IT
? IN THE MORNING, GOT TO TELL IT IN THE EVENING ?
? GOT TO TELL IT LATE AT NIGHT ? TELL IT
? GOT TO TELL IT WHEN I WANT IT ?
? GOT TO TELL IT, YEAH
? HE'S BEEN GOOD TO ME ? TELL IT
? PLACED MY FEET ON THE GROUND
? TELL IT, TELL IT, TELL IT ? GOT TO TELL IT
? HE'S BEEN MIGHTY GOOD, MIGHTY GOOD ?
? TELL IT, TELL IT ? HE'S BEEN A COMFORT TO ME
? GOT TO TELL YOU, GOT TO, YEAH ?
? EVERYBODY NEEDS TO KNOW ? OVER YOUR HEAD
? HE'S A SHELTER ? TELL IT, TELL IT, TELL IT
? GOT TO TELL IT, TELL IT ? TELL IT, TELL IT, WHEN I NEED
IT ? ? HE'S BEEN GOOD
? HE'S BEEN SO GOOD TO ME ? TELL IT, TELL IT
[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]
? YEAH ? GOT TO TELL IT
? EVERYBODY NEED TO KNOW
? SOMEBODY NEED TO KNOW ? HE'S A DOCTOR AND A LAWYER, A
PREACHER AND A TEACHER ? ? GOD, HE IS GOOD
? TELL IT, TELL IT ? TELL IT, TELL IT
? WHOO
[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]
? YEAH ?
? TELL IT, TELL IT, TELL IT ? GOTTA TELL IT
? YOU WANNA TELL IT ? TELL IT, TELL IT
? HE'S BEEN GOOD ? HE'S BEEN GOOD
[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
??
? YOU HAVE THE POWER, POWER, LORD ?
? YOU HAVE THE POWER, LORD
? YOU HAVE THE POWER ? POWER LORD
? OH, YES, SIR
? HOLY GHOST POWER ? HOLY GHOST POWER
? POWER LORD ? POWER LORD
? HOLY GHOST POWER ? HOLY GHOST POWER
? YOU HAVE THE POWER ? YOU HAVE THE POWER
? POWER LORD
? OH, YES, SIR
? HOLY GHOST POWER ? HOLY GHOST POWER
? YOU HAVE THE POWER TO TURN WATER INTO WINE ?
? OH, YEAH ? YOU HAVE THE POWER TO GIVE
SIGHT TO THE BLIND ? ? POWER LORD
? POWER LORD
? GOOD GOD ALL MIGHTY
? POWER LORD ? POWER LORD
? OH, HELP ME SAY IT
? POWER LORD ? POWER LORD
? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU
? I'M TALKING ABOUT ME ? EVERY NOW AND THEN
? POWER LORD ? POWER LORD
? WHEN I WAE WAKE UP IN THE MOR,
I NEED HIS POWER ? ? POWER LORD
? POWER LORD
? LIVING ON THE INSIDE ? POWER LORD
? ANYBODY GOT POWER ? YOU GOT YOU GOT POWER
? YOU KNOW YOU GOT POWER ? WAVE YOUR HANDS
? YOU KNOW YOU GOT POWER ? POWER
? POWER LORD ? POWER LORD
? SOMEBODY ? GOD GAVE IT TO ME
? YOU KNOW YOU GOT POWER ? YOU REALLY GOT POWER
? SOMEBODY ? ONE MORE TIME
? POWER > ? POWER LORD
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
THE VICTORY TRAVELERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE, AND THERE WE GO.
WE'VE GOT SOME CELEBRATING TO DO YET TODAY AS WE MOVE TO OUR
GUEST SPEAKER AHMED BABA, WHO IS AN INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST,
POLITICAL ANALYST AND FOUNDER OF THE BEST-SELLING NEWSLETTER
AHMED BABA NEWS. HE WAS PREVIOUSLY A COLUMNIST AT
THE INDEPENDENT AND COFOUNDER OF RANTT MEDIA.
FOR OVER A DECADE, HIS WORK HAS FOCUSED ON ANALYZING CURRENT
EVENTS THROUGH A PRO-DEMOCRACY LENS, EXPOSING THE DYNAMICS OF
AUTHORITARIANISM AND COMBATING DISINFORMATION.
BABA HAS BEEN COVERING PROJECT 2025 SINCE 2023, IN FACT,
BECOMING ONE OF THE LEADING VOICES ANALYZING ITS
IMPLEMENTATION. AMAD MAKES FREQUENT APPEARANCES
ON MS NOW, CNN, NEWSNATION AND HIS WORK HAS BEEN CITED IN THE
NEW YORK TIMES, THE WASHINGTON POST, CBS NEWS, ROLLING STONE,
ROHUFFPOST, BLACK ENTERPRISE AND MUCH MORE.
IN ADDITION TO HIS JOURNALISM, HE'S BUILT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
TECHNOLOGY AND HAS DELIVERED LECTURES AT COLLEGES, HIGH
SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS ON MEDIA LITERACY, TECHNOLOGY AND
DISINFORMATION. PLEASE JOIN ME IN GIVING OUR
GUEST SPEAKER TODAY, AHMED BABA, A WARM WELCOME.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT ME TO SPEAK OR CAN WE JUST KEEP VIBING
TO THE CONCERT?
THEY'RE KILLING IT. WHAT THIS CROWD NEEDS IS A
DR. OVERBY COVER ALBUM? , ALL
HE IS SINGING INCREDIBLY. YEAH.
PLEASE. [APPLAUSE]
IS MY FIRST CEREMONY LIKE THIS, MY FIRST TIME IN WISCONSIN,
ACTUALLY, PERIOD. SO WHAT A WELCOME, RIGHT?
WHAT A WELCOME. WHAT A WELCOME.
[APPLAUSE] >> I'M GENUINELY HONORED TO BE
HERE TODAY AND I WANT TO START BY THANKING DR. JONATHAN OVERBY
AND AMY OVERBY FOR TIRELESSLY ORGANIZING WHAT IS THE OLDEST
OFFICIAL STATE CELEBRATION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY IN
THE UNITED STATES. GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
THIS IS INCREDIBLE. [APPLAUSE]
AND THANK YOU TO GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, FIRST LADY KATHY EVERS,
THE OTHER DIG DIGNITARIES I'M SHARING THE STAGE WITH.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT,
ESPECIALLY THIS PARTICULAR YEAR. TODAY WE CELEBRATE REVEREND
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.'S BIRTHDAY, AND THIS ONE IS
SPECIAL. THIS CELEBRATION IS TAKING PLACE
IN A YEAR THAT MARKS 250 YEARS SINCE AMERICA'S FOUNDING WITH
THE SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
IDEALS THAT DR. KING WOULD GIVE HIS LIFE FIGHTING FOR FUTURE
GENERATIONS TO REALIZE. THE SELF-EVIDENT TRUTH THAT ALL
PEOPLE ARE CREATED EQUALLY, ARE ENDOWED WITH THE RIGHT TO LIFE,
LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, A PROMISE WE'RE ALL
STILL FIGHTING TO FULFILL. CLEARLY.
WE'RE SPEAKING TOO MUCH TRUTH. A PROTESTOR.
PROTESTOR. THIS IS WHERE WE REFLECT ON THE
ICON THAT IS DR. KING. IT'S ALSO A DAY WHEN WE WATCH
CERTAIN FEDERAL OFFICIALS SHARE QUOTES FROM DR. KING'S SPEECHES
THAT DIRECTLY CONTRADICT THEIR IDEOLOGY AND OPPRESSIVE ACTIONS.
I WON'T NAME NAMES. WE'LL KEEP IT CIVIL TODAY.
BUT I START THERE BECAUSE DR. KING'S ACTIVISM IS OFTEN
SANITIZED. WHILE HE LIVED BY THE CREED OF
LOVE YOUR ENEMY, HE WAS NO LESS OF A FIGHTER.
HE WAS A PEACEFUL WARRIOR FOR JUSTICE.
HE SPOKE OUT AGAINST UNJUST WARS.
HE ALONG WITH HIS GENERATIONS OF ACTIVISTS FORCED AMERICA TO
RECKON WITH ITS UNJUST CONTRADICTIONS BY CITING ITS OWN
PRINCIPLES. THIS WAS A MAN OF SUCH COURAGE
THAT DESPITE INCARCERATION AND VIOLENCE, HE KEPTING IN
UNDETEARED. HE WAS STABBED IN THE CHEST AND
REMAINED UNPHASED AND CALM. WHEN HE GOT TO THE HOSPITAL, THE
DOCTORS <!0> SAID IF HE HAD EVEN SNEEZED HE WOULD HAVE DIED.
DR. KING REMAINED COMMITTED TO THE FIGHT.
HE BORE A CROSS-SHAPED SCAR ON HIS FAITH THE REST OF HIS LIFE,
A COMMITMENT TO THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM.
BEING ACTIVELY SPIED ON BY THE FBI AND YET HE PERSISTED.
HE STARED INTO THE FACE OF JIM CROW AND SAID ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
BUT DR. KING WAS MORE THAN AN ORATOR.
HE WAS MORE THAN A DREAMER. HE WAS A STRATEGIST.
HE WAS MORE THAN A BELIEVER IN AMERICA'S PROMISED IDEALS.
HE CHALLENGED AMERICA TO LIVE UP TO THEM.
HE HAD SUCH A DEEP FAITH AND RESILIENT SPIRITUALITY THAT
GUIDED HIS LEADERSHIP AND ELEVATED EVERYONE AROUND HIM.
BUT TODAY'S NOT ABOUT PLATITUDES, RIGHT?
THIS IS A DAY WHERE WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRAW INSIGHTS
FROM DR. KING THAT WE CAN APPLY IN OUR ONGOING FIGHT TO FULFILL
THE VISION OF HIS PROMISED LAND. THE THEME OF TODAY'S EVENT IS
THE POWER OF UNITY. WHAT A PROFOUND ASPIRATIONAL
THEME AT A TIME WHEN WE NEED IT MOST.
I OFTEN WONDER WHAT DR. KING WOULD SAY ABOUT THE MOMENT WE
FIND OURSELVES IN, A MOMENT WHERE WE HAVE ACCESS TO
UNLIMITED INFORMATION BUT LIVE IN AN AGE OF DISINFORMATION, A
TIME WHERE WE CAN CONNECT WITH ANYONE ON THE PLANET WITH THE
TAP OF A SCREEN BUT FEEL SO DISCONNECTED, A MOMENT WHERE
ALGORITHMS MONETIZE OUR DIVISIONS, A MOMENT WHERE WE'RE
THE MOST ECONOMICALLY PROSPEROUS NATION ON EARTH, YET SO MANY
LANGUISH IN POVERTY. WE ARE ACHIEVING BREAKTHROUGHS,
BUT TAKING STEPS BACKWARD THAT WOULD HAVE FELT UNIMAGINABLE A
DECADE AGO. WE HAVE BEEN MORE DIVIDED THAN
THIS. A FEELS AT TIMES AS IF WE HAVE
NEVER BEEN MORE POLARIZED. I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT
DR. KING WOULD SAY ABOUT THE TIMES WE FIND OURSELVES IN, BUT
WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT HE WOULD TELL US NOT TO GIVE UP ON OUR
ABILITY TO CHANGE THEM. HE WOULD TELL US NOT TO GIVE UP
ON OURSELVES. HE WOULD TELL US NOT TO GIVE UP
ON EACH OTHER. HE WOULD TELL US NOT TO GIVE UP
ON THIS COUNTRY, NO MATTER HOW HARD IT IS, AND I KNOW IT'S
GETTING A LITTLE HARDER. BUT HE WOULDN'T WHITEWASH THIS
MOMENT, EITHER. HE WOULD TELL THE BLUNT TRUTH AS
HE DID IN HIS TIME. HE WOULD PRAISE THE PROGRESS WE
MADE BUT ALSO TALK ABOUT SETBACKS WE HAVE AND WORK WE
HAVE ANY YET TO DO. I WAS BORN 25 YEARS AFTER
DR. KING DIED, BUT HIS IMPACT NEVER DIED.
AND I GRAVITATED TOWARDS READING ABOUT HIM AS A KID.
AS I BECAME A TEENAGER, SOMETHING HAPPENED THAT CHANGED
MY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF THE COUNTRY'S.
JUST AS EMMETT TILL'S MURDER GALVANIZED KING'S TIME, TRAYVON
MARTIN DID OURS. IT WAS HIS DEATH THAT PUSHED ME
INTO JOURNALISM. I WAS AROUND HIS AGE WHEN IT
HAPPENED. I KIND OF LOOK LIKE HIM.
I HAD HAIR AT THE TIME, SO THERE WAS A LITTLE MORE OF A
RESEMBLANCE. I WORE HOODIES LIKE HIM.
I WALKED THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE HIM.
I FELT IT EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN ME.
I PICKED UP DR. KING'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY, WHEN BARACK OBAMA
STATES. ANYTHING SEEMED POSSIBLE.
THAT PERIOD CRAFTED MY WORLDVIEW.
A BLACK KID COULD GROW UP AND BE ANYTHING.
IT LED ME DOWN THE PATH OF LEAVING MY JOB, START A 3450ED I
MEDIACOMPANY. THROUGH ALL THIS I NEVER SEEMED
TO LOSE MY SANITY OR MY FAITH IN PEOPLE, BECAUSE DR. KING SHAPED
MY OPTIMISM. I'M NOT GOING TO LIE YOU.
IN RECENT YEARS, MY FAITH AND HOPE IN HUMANITY HAS BEEN
TESTED, AS I'M SURE ALL OF US HAS.
IN PREPARATION FOR THIS SPEECH, AS I STARTED READING ABOUT
DR. RIN KING, I PICKED UP I'VE'S WRITINGS AND IT HELPED ME LOOK
AT THE LONG ARC OF HISTORY AND REVITALIZED ME.
IF DR. KING COULD KEEP HIS FAITH IN HIS TIME, WHY CAN'T WE?
SURELY WE CAN, RIGHT? IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME THAT
DR. KING'S WORLDVIEW AND HIS STYLE OF MORAL LEADERSHIP IS
WHAT THIS COUNTRY SO DESPERATELY NEEDS RIGHT NOW.
MORAL LEADERSHIP. DR. KING'S COMBINATION OF
FORTHFUL TRUTH-TELLING, ORGANIZING AND NONVIOLENT LOVE
IS THE ANTIDOTE TO THIS INSANITY.
AS A JOURNALIST, I'M ALSO A STUDENT OF HISTORY.
AND SO WITH SO MANY ATTACKS ON HISTORIC TRUTH AND A RENEWED
DEBATE ABOUT WHAT COUNTRY WE ARE, I THINK IT'S MORE IMPORTANT
THAN EVER TO REASSERT SOME OF DR. KING'S TRUTH TODAY AND GLEAN
LESSONS FROM HIS LEADERSHIP. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.'S
LIFE SITS AT A DEFINITIVE JUNCTURE OF AMERICA'S DESTINY.
HE WAS MOLDED BY A POWER BEYOND US FITTED TO THE TIME HE LIVED
AND EQUIPPED WITH A VISION OF A WORLD HE WOULD NEVER LIVE TO
SEE. HE WAS THE LEADER WE NEEDED.
HUMAN HISTORY HAS BEEN DEFINED BY A GREAT STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE
DIVIDER AND THE UNITER. THE DIVIDER SEEKS TO RIP US
APART. THEY WEAPONIZE HATRED AND TELL
US TO BE FEAR FEARFUL OF ONE AN. THEY GIVE PEOPLE PERMISSION TO
BE THEIR WORST SELVES. THE UNITER TRIES TO BRING US
TOGETHER AS APPEALING TO OUR BETTER ANGELS, REMINDING US THAT
THERE'S MORE THAT BINDS US THAN DEVISED US.
THEY ORGANIZE US BEHIND A MORAL PURPOSE.
THEY HELP TO ENSURE THE UNIVERSE IS BENT TOWARD JUSTICE.
DR. KING WAS ONE OF THOSE LEADERS.
HE BELIEVED IN US. HE BELIEVED IN HUMANITY'S
CAPACITY FOR GOOD. HE BELIEVED IN WHAT HE CALLED
THE GREAT, DECENT MAJORITY. HE BELIEVED THAT WE COULD BE
SHOWN A BETTER WAY. HE BELIEVED IN A COUNTRY THAT
DIDN'T BELIEVE HE DESERVED EQUAL RIGHTS.
FACE OF HATRED WAS A FORCE OF NATURE SO FUNDAMENTAL TO THE
HUMAN SPIRIT THAT IT MOVED THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF MILLIONS.
KING BELIEVED THAT ANYONE COULD BUY INTO THE IDEA OF AMERICA AND
BE AS AMERICAN AS ANYONE ELSE. HE BELIEVED IN THIS
MULTICULTURAL EXPERIMENT. HE BOUGHT INTO THIS IDEA, ANYONE
CAN COME HERE. IT'S NOT ABOUT BLOOD AND SOIL OR
HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN HERE. IT'S AN IDEA THAT ANY IMMIGRANT
CAN COME AND FULFILL, THAT ANYONE CAN MAKE SOMETHING OF
THEMSELVES. THE IDEA THAT WE'RE ALL WORTHY
OF DIGNITY, THAT THE CONSTITUTION SHOULD PROTECT THE
RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE. DR. KING WAS A MODERN-DAY
FOUNDING FATHER. DR. KING AND HIS GENERATION TOOK
THE LANGUAGE OF THE DECLARATION AND CONSTITUTION AND USED IT TO
MAKE THE CASE FOR BLACK LIBERATION.
LIKE FREDERICK DOUGLASS AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN, HE POINTED OUT
CONTRADICTIONS IN AMERICAN SOCIETY AND USED THE FOUNDING
PRINCIPLES TO B BOLSTER HIS ARGUMENTS FOR FREEDOM.
HE LEARNED ABOUT THE TRUE POWER OF UNITY AND LATER PUT IT INTO
PRACTICE. SLOGAN, AS MELODY SAID EARLIER.
HE UTILIZED IT AS A COLLECTIVE FORCE FOR CHANGE.
DR. KING KNEW THAT THERE WAS FAR MORE THAT UNITED US THAN DIVIDED
US, THAT THE CONNECTIVE TISSUE OF THE AMERICAN IDEA COULD BIND
US TOGETHER, THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE LIKE THIS CRIER THAT
WHEN OUR VOICES COME TOGETHER, THEY CREATE POWERFUL HARMONIES
THAT CAN REVERBERATE THROUGH CAPITOLS.
AMERICANS HAVE A UNIQUE CAPACITY TO CHANGE THE HEARTS, MINDS AND
LEGISLATION OF THIS COUNTRY. IN A TIME LONG BEFORE SOCIAL
MEDIA AND THE ATTENTION ECONOMY, DR. KING KNEW HOW TO COMMAND THE
NATION'S ATTENTION AND CHANNEL IT FOR PROGRESS AND HE DID THAT
REPEATEDLY. IN MONTGOMERY IN 1955 AT THE AGE
OF 26 -- PEOPLE FORGET. THIS WAS A YOUNG MAN.
WE SEE HIM AS THIS ICON, THIS STATUE, BUT HE WAS 26 YEARS OLD.
AFTER CLAUDETTE REFUSED TO GIVE UP HER SEAT, ROSA PARKS WOULD DO
THE SAME. CLAUDETTE PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK.
REST IN POWER TO HER. SHE HELPED SET OFF A MOVEMENT
AND SHE LIVED UNTIL 86 TO SEE DRSOME OF THE PROMISED LAND
FULFILLED. DR. KING WAS THEN RECRUITED TO
LEAD THE MONT MONTGOMERY BOYCO. NOW HE WOULD MOVE THIS NATION.
BLACK PEOPLE MADE UP THREE-QUARTERS OF THE BUS
RIDERS. THEY KNEW THEY COULD GRIND THE
ECONOMY TO A HALT THERE. THEY MADE A MASSIVE IMPACT WITH
A MASSIVE BACKLASH. DR. KING'S HOUSE WAS FIREBOMBED.
COCORETTA WAS HOME AT THE TIME WITH THEIR DAUGHTER.
THEY WERE UNHARMED. BUT THEY BOTH KEPT GOING IN
SPITE OF THAT. THE BOYCOTT LASTED 281 DAYS AND
THE NAACP FILED A LAWSUIT THAT LED TO ENDING BUS SEGREGATION.
THE CASE PROVIDED THE LEGAL MEANS FOR CHANGE.
THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT MADE KING WORLD FAMOUS.
IT PROVED THAT SEGREGATION COULD BE SUCCESSFULLY CHALLENGED BY
ORGANIZED, MASS, NONVIOLENT ACTION.
THE BUS BOYCOTT INSPIRED A GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT.
YOUNG PEOPLE ENGAGED IN SIT-INS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THEN CAME THE FREEDOM RIDES. DR. KING GUIDED STUDENT LEADERS
LIKE JOHN LEWIS, DIANE NASH, MARION BARRY, VIVIAN INTO
CREATING SNCC. DR. KING KNEW THE POWER OF UNITY
AND ORGANIZING. THEN IN 1963, BIRMINGHAM,
ALABAMA. DR. KING AND RALPH ABERNATHY
JOINED FORCES AND UNITED THE BLACK COMMUNITY AGAINST
SEGREGATION. THEY USED THE ECONOMIC TOOLS OF
BOYCOTTS TO FORCE ACTION. THEIR PEACEFUL PROTESTS FACED
VIOLENT PUSHBACK. DR. KING WAS ARRESTED ONCE
AGAIN. THIS TIME HE DID SOMETHING
POWERFUL. HE WROTE IN THE MARGINS OF
NEWSPAPERS AND GAVE THEM TO OTHERS WHO SNUCK THEM OUT THE
JAIL. HIS COLLEAGUES PIECED THESE
TOGETHER IN WHAT BECAME THE LETTER FROM BIRMINGHAM JAIL.
A PIECE OF WRITING THAT I CONSIDER TO BE UP THERE WITH
AMERICA'S BEST FOUNDING DOCUMENTS, FRANKLY.
AND IT WAS IN THIS DOCUMENT THAT DR. KING WROTE ONE OF HIS MOST
IMPORTANT LINES: THAT INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE
EVERYWHERE. DR. KING ALSO WROTE WE KNOW
THROUGH PAINFUL EXPERIENCE THAT FREEDOM IS NEVER VOLUNTARILY
GIVEN BY THE OPPRESSOR. IT MUST BE DEMANDED BY THE
OPPRESSED. DR. KING'S LETTER WAS A
DEFINITIVE PHILOSOPHICAL DEFENSE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
STRATEGY OF NONVIOLENT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.
HE WAS RELEASED AND HE GARNERED VICTORIES IN BIRMINGHAM AND WITH
MMOMENTUM AT HIS BACK, HE DIDN'T STOP THERE.
JFK SAID MAYBE DON'T DO THE MARCH.
NO. WE'RE DOING THE MARCH ANYWAY AND
HE DELIVERED "I HAVE A DREAM" TO 250,000 PEOPLE AND UNITED PEOPLE
BEHIND THE MESSAGE OF HOPE. LATER ON, LBJ SIGNED THE CIVIL
RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 AND ENDED SEGREGATION.
DIDN'T STOP THERE. HE KEPT PUSHING.
IN SELMA, HE ONCE AGAIN SHOWED THE NATION WHAT MORAL LEADERSHIP
LOOKS LIKE. THE RIGHT TO VOTE WAS BEING
SYSTEMICALLY DENIED AND DR. KING KNEW THAT DEMOCRACY ITSELF WAS
HOLLOW IF MILLIONS WERE LOCKED OUT OF IT.
WITH PEACEFUL MARCHERS LED BY JOHN LEWIS CROSSED THE EDMUND
PETTUS BRIDGE, MET WITH BRUTAL VIOLENCE, BROADCAST THE NATION.
I WENT AND MET JOANNE BLAND, WHO WAS 11 AT THE TIME.
SHE RELAYED THE STORIES. IT WAS BRUTAL.
BUT INSTEAD OF RETREATING, THE MOVEMENT RESPONDED WITH
DISCIPLINE AND COURAGE AND UNITY.
AMERICANS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY FLED INTO SELMA.
SELMA SHOCKED THE CONSCIENCE OF THE NATION AND FORCED ACTION.
THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 WAS SIGNED INTO LAW, PROVING
ONCE AGAIN THAT WHEN THE PEOPLE UNITE BEHIND DEMANDS FOR
JUSTICE, EVEN THE MOST ENTRENCHED SYSTEMS CAN BE
CHANGED. BEEN CONSIDERED TO BE ANOTHER
FOUNDING ERA, AN ERA WHERE THE PATRIOTISM OF THE BLACK
COMMUNITY FORCED AMERICA FORWARD.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THIS COMMUNITY AND THOSE WHO ALLY WITH US THAT
HAVE PUSHED AMERICA TO LIVE UP TO ITS PROMISE.
AND IT'S FOR THIS REASON THAT I CONSIDER AMERICA TO HAVE HAD
THREE FOUNDINGS. THE FIRST WAS THE DECLARATION.
RECONSTRUCTION AT THE EFRPBD OFE CIVIL WAR.
AFTER SLAVERY AMERICA SOUGHT TO GRANT FREEDOM TO ALL.
BLACK PEOPLE BEGAN PURCHASING LAND.
THEY WERE CREATING COMMUNITIES. THEY STARTED VOTING, ELECTING
MORE THAN 2,000 BLACK OFFICIALS, INCLUDING TEN MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS AND TWO U.S. SENATORS. TEN MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE,
FRANKLY. THAT PERIOD RESULTED IN A
PROFOUND BACKLASH, AS PUSHES FOR PROGRESS OFTEN DO.
THE LOST CAUSE OF THE CONFEDERACY LIVED ON WITH JIM
KROES. CROW LAWS.
POLITICAL FREEDOM OF BLACK PEOPLE WAS SUPPRESSED.
VIOLENT ERUPTED. MORE THAN 4,000 BLACK PEOPLE
WERE LYNCHED. BUT THEN DR. KING AND HIS FELLOW
FOUNDING FATHERS AND MOTHERS OF THE 1950s PUSHED US TO FULFILL
AMERICA'S PROMISE ONCE AGAIN. BUT THERE WAS BACKLASH RESULTING
IN THE ASSASSINATION OF DR. KING.
BUT AS A RESULT OF THEIR WORK, AMERICA MADE SLOW PROGRESS IN
FITS AND STARTS. THERE WAS WAR ON DRUGS,
HINDERANCES, BUT IT CULMINATED IN THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES, BARACK OBAMA, BEING ELECTED.
BUT THEN CAME THE BACKLASH. WE'RE STILL CURRENTLY LIVING
WITHIN THAT BACKLASH. AND AFTER THE 2020 MURDERS OF
GEORGE FLOYD, AHMAUD ABERRY, THE BLACK LASH INTENSIFIED.
IN 2024 THERE WAS MORE BACKLASH. NOW THERE'S AN ONGOING ATTACK ON
WHAT ACTUALLY MAKES AMERICA GREAT, OUR MULTICULTURAL
DEMOCRACY. WE'VE SEEN ROLLBACKS UNDER THE
GUISE OF ATTACKING DEI. WE'VE SEEN POWER GRABS AND
MASKED MEN IN UNMARKED CARS ON AMERICA'S STREETS RACIALLY
PROFILING AND HARASSING BOTH IMMIGRANTS AND U.S. CITIZENS
ALIKE. WE'VE SEEN AMERICANS LIKE RENEE
NICOLE GOOD KILLED BY A FEDERAL AGENT.
WE'VE SEEN AN ATTEMPT TO ROLL BACK THE PROGRESS OF OUR
MULTICULTURAL DEMOCRACY AND AN ECHO OF THE REVERSE GAINS WE SAW
AFTER RECONSTRUCTION. WE'VE SEEN ATTEMPTS TO ERASE AND
DISTORT HISTORY IN AN EFFORT TO DELEGITIMIZE THE STORIES OF HOW
ORDINARY PEOPLE HAVE CHALLENGED UNJUST SYSTEMS.
LOOKS LIKE. BUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE
FAILED DOWN A AUTHORITARIANISM BEFORE AND WON.
NONE OF THIS IS STRENGTH. IT'S WEAKNESS.
I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT OUR FIGHT AGAINST NAZI GERMANY,
WHERE BLACK PEOPLE FOUGHT AND RETURNED TO A COUNTRY THAT
WOULDN'T GUARANTEE THEIR OWN. WE'VE HAD IT HERE IN AMERICA
BEFORE. THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY WAS
AUTHORITARIAN. JIM CROW SOUTH WAS
AUTHORITARIAN. WE RECOGNIZED, UNIFIED AND
DEFEATED IT. WE HAVE REPEATEDLY REFOUNDED AND
REDEFINED THIS COUNTRY TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
AND NOW WE ARE APPROACHING A MOMENT WHERE WE ARE ONCE AGAIN
DEBATING THE QUESTION OF WHAT KIND OF COUNTRY WE WANT TO BE.
THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF AMERICA: THAT DESPITE WHO WE ARE
YESTERDAY OR WHO WE ARE TODAY, WE HAVE THE POWER TO DECIDE WHO
WE WILL BE TOMORROW. AND AS DR. KING SAID, THE ARC OF
THE MORAL UNIVERSE IS LONG, BUT IT BENDS TOWARD JUSTICE.
BUT AS HISTORY AND KING'S OWN ACTIONS MAKE CLEAR, THE ARC DOES
NOT BEND ON ITS OWN. IT BENDS WHEN A UNITED PEOPLE
ARE BRAVE ENOUGH TO PUSH IT. WE HAVE SO MANY MORE TOOLS AT
OUR DISPOSAL. ANYONE CAN LOOK AT THEIR PHONES
AND SPREAD TRUTH TO MILLIONS, THEY CAN RECORD ATROCITIES,
BLAST INFORMATION AT THE SPEED OF LIGHTNING.
WE HAVE OUR OWN CIRCLES OF INFLUENCE.
WE ARE MASS ORGANIZE. NOW WE ARE ALL LEADERS, EACH OF
US INDIVIDUALLY. WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT,
EVERYBODY'S GOT AT LEAST TEN INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS.
YOU'RE LEADING THEM, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR COMMUNITY.
EACH OF US HAS THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND POWER NOW.
AND NOW WE MUST LIVE BY KING'S EXAMPLE AND NOT BE AFRAID.
IF THE CIVIL RIGHTS HEROES COULD DO IT WITH FAR FEWER LEGAL
PROTECTIONS, SURELY WE CAN DO IT, RIGHT?
SURELY WE CAN DO IT IN OURS. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> IF AN 11-YEAR-OLD JOANNE BLAND AND 25-YEAR-OLD JOHN LEWIS
COULD CROSS THE BRIDGE ON BLOODY
SUNDAY AND GET BACK UP AND KEEP ON FIGHTING, SO CAN WE.
SO CAN WE. [APPLAUSE]
SEGREGATED LUNCH COUNTERS, FACE DOGS AND FIREHOUSES, IF PEOPLE
COULD RISK EVERYTHING IN THEIR FIGHT FOR DIGNITY, THEN SO CAN
WE. [APPLAUSE]
>> IF BARACK OBAMA COULD RISE TO THE HIGHEST OFFICE OF THE LAND
AND NEVER BREAK AND NEVER CRACK
UNDER THE PRESSURE AND THE RACISM HE FACED, THEN SO CAN WE.
WHY NOT? WHY NOT US?
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND IF DRDR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. COULD CLIMB TO THE
MOUNTAINTOP AND UNITE THE PEOPLE OF HIS TIME TO PUSH AMERICA
FORWARD, THEN SO CAN WE! AND WE WILL.
WE WILL. BECAUSE IT'S OUR TURN.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU.
>> AHMED BABA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
DON'T JUST COME ONCE TO
WISCONSIN. DON'T LET THIS COLD FOOL YOU,
MAN. COME ON BACK.
PLEASE GIVE HIM ANOTHER WARM ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WELL, FRIENDS, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO ARIA TERRY, 4TH
GRADER, LOVES PLAYING SPORTS,
INCLUDING SOCCER, BASKETBALL, GYMNASTICS, FIGURE SKATING, FLAG
FOOTBALL AND TRACK. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND BESIDES SINGING AND DANCING, SHE HAS COMPETED IN AAU
JUNIOR NATIONALS TRACK EVENTS. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND SHE WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT SHE'S PROUD AND EXCITED TO
BE READING AN EXCERPT FROM
DR. KING'S "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH.
ARIA, WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT YOU ARE JOINING US TODAY.
PLEASE WELCOME ARIA TERRY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
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
THEIR SKIN BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER.
I HAVE A DREAM TODAY. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
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 SISTERS AND BROTHERS.
I HAVE A DREAM TODAY. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
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.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] 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
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I'M SCARED OF YOU, CHILD, RIGHT NOW.
[LAUGHTER]
WOULD YOU AGREE THAT THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR OUR CHILDREN?
WOULD YOU AGREE? [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WELL, AS WE CONCLUDE OUR PROGRAM TODAY, I'M NOT READY TO
GO, BUT, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO
THANK THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, OUR SPONSORS AND OUR
PRODUCTION CREWS, VOLUNTEERS, PLANNING COMMITTEE AND ALL OF
OUR DAIS GUESTS. THESE ARE LEADERS ALL ACROSS THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN. WOULD YOU GIVE THEM A HAND,
PLEASE?
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> AND WE THANK YOU FOR
CELEBRATING WISCONSIN'S 46TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE AND CEREMONY
HONORING DRDR. MARTIN LUTHER KI, JR.
NOW I INVITE YOU TO STAND AND JOIN ME AS WE RENDER THAT
TIMELESS SONG, "WE SHALL OVERCOME."
? WE SHALL OVERCOME ? WE SHALL OVERCOME
? WE SHALL OVERCOME SOMEDAY
? OH, DEEP IN MY HEART >> YES, SIR.
? I DO BELIEVE ? THAT WE SHALL OVERCOME
SOMEDAY ? >> ALL RIGHT.
NOW I WANT ALL OF YOU TO SING IT OUT HERE.
HERE WE GO. WE SHALL OVERCOME.
? WE SHALL OVERCOME ? WE SHALL OVERCOME
? WE SHALL OVERCOME SOMEDAY ? OH, DEEP IN MY HEART
? OH, I DO BELIEVE ? THAT WE SHALL OVERCOME
SOMEDAY ? >> ALL RIGHT.
WITHOUT ANY MUSIC, SING IT AGAIN.
COME ON. LET ME HEAR YOUR VOICES.
? WELL, NOW, WE SHALL OVERCOME ? WE SHALL OVERCOME
? WE SHALL OVERCOME SOMEDAY ? OH, DEEP IN MY HEART ?
OH, I DO BELIEVE ? ? THAT WE SHALL OVERCOME
SOMEDAY ? >> THAT WE SHALL OVERCOME.
? THAT WE SHALL OVERCOME SOMEDAY ?
>> AS WE CONCLUDE TODAY'S PROGRAM, MAY WE LEAVE HERE
REMEMBERING THAT UNITY IS POWER. WHEN WE STAND TOGETHER, WE MOVE
FROM HOPE TO ACTION. AND WE KEEP DR. KING'S DREAM
ALIVE. LET THAT UNITY GUIDE WHAT WE DO
NEXT TOGETHER. I'M JONATHAN OVERBY.
MAY YOUR WEEK BE FILLED WITH PEACE AND YOUR DAYS AHEAD FILLED
WITH HARMONY. THANK YOU, AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] ?
[VICTORY TRAVELERS SINGING]