City Commemorates Martin Luther King Jr. Day
By Robin Vinci at January 24, 2024 | 8:00 am | Print
‘We still have much to do’ was the theme Monday as New Britain honored one of this country’s greatest leaders. The City honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. first at Angelico’s Restaurant with a breakfast ceremony sponsored by Mayor Erin Stewart and the New Britain Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and later at the monument at his park.
Master of Ceremonies Jessica Angelo-Julien said to the group of about 150 that, “Dr. King’s dreams continue big or small. We have to continue to observe and commemorate his special day.”
“New Britain is a community built on the belief that every person has amazing value and is owed the respect we would want for ourselves,” said Stewart. “Dr. King said the ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in times of comfort and convenience, but where they stand at times of challenge and controversy.”
Stewart said the country still has miles and miles to go to end racial hatred and injustice, but honoring Dr. King brings us much closer to that shared goal.
“The strives this community has taken over the last 50 years alone, albeit painfully slow at times, has brought New Britain closer to truly embodying those words,” said Stewart. “As your Mayor I will do all I can to continue the progress.”
As the City honored Dr. King, Gov. Dannel Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman made a short stop to say a few words at the ceremony.
Gov. Malloy told those in attendance that he was the younger brother of a Central Connecticut State University player and that made him understand why New Britain is “Hard Hittin’”.
“Martin Luther King Jr. left us with this positive note of what the world could and should be,” said Malloy. “In so many ways the people in this room have lived this vision and dream.”
“We have come very far, but we have so much more to go,” said Wyman. “These kinds of breakfasts are so important so we don’t forget where we came from and what the dreams are for the future.”
The keynote address was given by Dr. Benjamin Foster, State Education Chairperson, State of Connecticut Conference of NAACP.
“We have yet to discover Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I believe he was one of the greatest lovers the world has produced. He knew that love makes you vulnerable. He was willing to accept the vulnerability of love to save our nation’s soul,” said Foster. “We have much work to do.”
Foster said people across the country have come on this day to honor Dr. King.
“But few gatherings will acknowledge his vision as articulated in his last speech “I’ve Been to the Mountain Top”,” said Foster. “The vision of Dr. King was for equality, justice and mercy.”
Foster told those in the audience that they are blessed with the bumble bee syndrome as was Dr. King.
“Based on the law of aerodynamics, the bumble bee is not supposed to fly,” Foster said. “It is too wide and it is too heavy. But, God did not tell the bumble bee it could not fly. Despite all the roadblocks presented to Dr. Martin Luther King, he soared very high. He was a bumble bee that refused to just buzz.”
Following the breakfast about 60 people went to Martin Luther King Park on the corner of Martin Luther King Dr. and Stanley St. to honor the Dr. King.
Daniel Davis, from the Board of Education said that everyone should remember that Dr. King loved at times of extreme adversity.
“Truly think about what Dr. King and the Civil Right movement meant,” said Davis. “We need to carry that on today.”
Anji M. Collins sang “Let Freedom Ring” and “The Black National Anthem” during Monday’s celebrations. Henry Bentley performed saxophone and Rev. John Morris of Spottswood A.M.E. Zion Church gave both the invocation and the benediction.
King was an African-American clergyman who advocated for social changes through non-violent means. He organized a march of 200,000 people in Washington DC and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. He was shot to death in 1968 in Memphis, Tenn.
Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities members are Michael Koch (chairperson), Ana Padron, Cora Bradley, Joan Pina and Angelo-Julien. Common Council Liaison is Tonilynn Collins.
