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Today Is Martin Luther King Jr. Day
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 20, 2014
Modified Jan 20, 2014
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 20, 2014
Modified Jan 20, 2014
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The legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. is honored today. His enduring significance was eloquently captured by a Washington Post editorial this morning: "The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was seen by some as a radical and a troublemaker. The truth is that he had considerable faith in America. He believed that when people saw the unfairness of the caste system that had grown up in their country — in a nation founded on the principles of equality before the law, the opportunity to advance in life according to one’s merits, the right to choose the people who govern us — they would understand how truly un-American it was and it would all come to an end, and much of it has."
There are numerous events in the city to honor the slain civil rights leader, the largest being the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tickets are being handed out on a first-come, first-serve basis now for the 10:30 a.m. event, which will include remarks from Mayor de Blasio.
The King Center has asked the public to continue his crusade to work in non-violent ways. Bernice King, King's daughter who heads the center, said, "Dr. King's philosophy of non-violence is more relevant, I believe, than it was 10 years ago… America has an enormous appetite for violence. I don't know why we have such an affinity for that, but I do know it has to stop."
The King Center is promoting a "no shots fired on this day" campaign today: "This requires all of us to be intentional about abstaining from gun violence, violence in the media, physical violence, and violence in speech. We want to see a total ceasefire in every community, every state, across the United States and around the world. Let us know your joys and struggles today at www.choosenonviolence.org"
King's birthday is actually January 15, 1929, but in 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation to mark the third Monday of January to be Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday. (City schools are closed and other services are suspended, like garbage pickup; check at nyc.gov.) And in 1994, President Bill Clinton declared the holiday a day of service.
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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