PLATTSBURGH — The message of love, peace and stamina to keep Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream of justice and equality alive was hammered home at Monday’s celebration of the famed civil rights leader at the St. John XXIII Newman Center on the campus of SUNY Plattsburgh.
“I love you,” City of Plattsburgh Mayor Chris Rosenquest told the crowd gathered for the celebration entitled, “Why We Can’t Wait: Activating our Power for Equity in Justice.”
“I often say that while I’m here and I often share the word of love and that statement about loving you because fundamentally, when I think about my own life, I believe that is true for me; that I’m here here to be of service because of the love that I have for you.”
Rosenquest said that we as a society need to reflect inwardly and ask ourselves if we are taking enough action to make the world better.
“Often times it feels like a choice, and it feels like a choice not to take action,” he said.
“And so maybe today is a reflection on why we don’t as an individual, take that action and take that step to put our own self aside to serve the greater good of others well beyond what we think we have the capacity for.”
State Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) said a more positive message has to come from all people in order to drown out the negativity and hate on social media and elsewhere.
“Often times we yell instead of listen,” Jones said.
“And I blame it on us (political leaders). We need to be the leaders that our society needs. Right now, we’re not fulfilling King’s dream. Each and every single one of us needs to put out a message of positivity.”
SUNY Plattsburgh President Dr. Alexander Enyedi said education is critical in paving the way for a more equal and just society, and that is a message that is taught on campus.
“We take seriously our responsibility to support the well being of this wonderful community, to foster partnerships and to address the unique strengths and challenges faced by this region,” Enyedi said.
“SUNY Plattsburgh is not just an institution of higher education, it is a catalyst for social change, it is your partner. In the words of Dr. King, the function of education is to teach one to think intensively and think critically… that is the goal of true education.”
In his invocation, the Rev. David Ousley of Trinity Episcopal Church in Plattsburgh, prayed for a leader who is “rooted in the principles of equality, justice and human rights, and like Dr. King, emphasizing a non-violent resistance doing so as a means of achieving that social change that we need.”
Ousley also said that we need a leader grounded in moral and ethical principles rather than a popular strategy commonly associated with a political movement.
“A leader who would promote empathy, cultural understanding and critical thinking to build a foundation for a more tolerant society, grounded in civility compassion and compromise,” he said.
The day was punctuated with the acknowledgement of William Verity and the Plattsburgh High School Select Chorus.
Verity is retiring after 32 years, many of which featured an appearance with the chorus at the Newman Center for the MLK celebration.