
Town of Cicero officials and residents and dignitaries gathered Thursday Jan. 14, 2010 to honor the memory of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Cicero Community Center, 2250 S. 49th Ave.
Guest speakers included Circuit Court Judge the Honorable Lawrence Terrell and Kasumba Kal Lawanga, the executive assistant to Cicero Town President Larry Dominick. The event was emceed by former legislator Frank Aguilar who now heads up Cicero's Community Affairs Department.
As about 100 people gathered in preparation for the ceremony, speeches from Dr. King were broadcast on the Community Center PA System. Among those offering support at the event were City Clerk Marylin Colpo, Township Supervisor Joe Virruso, and trustees Maria Punzo-Arias and Dennis Raleigh. Also attending were Cicero Police Chief Lori Lelis and Cicero Fire Marshal George Gregory.
"As we gather here this morning, we can listen to the echoes of a great man's voice who reminded us we are one people living in one world," Aguilar said as he introduced the event's speakers.
Judge Terrell noted that the Town of Cicero "never celebrated or acknowledged Dr. King's legacy until Larry Dominick was elected President of the Town of Cicero. President Dominick believes that Dr. King represented a noble fight for the civil rights of all Americans."
Terrell said that Dr. King would be amazed, had he lived, to see the country elect its first African American president, and cited the achievements of many African Americans in American life including Oprah,. Denzel Washington "and individuals working in law, as judges and astronauts."
Terrell added that King helped to "move America to a post-racial society where character means more than the color of your skin."
Lwanga, speaking on behalf of the entire town of Cicero, offered a compelling and moving speech:
"It is an honor for me to be able to speak before you today, residents of the Town of Cicero, members of the Town Board of Trustees, His Honor Cook County Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Terrell and my beloved boss, our Town President, Larry Dominick, on this important commemoration of the life and the legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
"Dr. King is an inspiration to all Americans. He wasn’t just an African American leader. He was an American leader. Today and on the holiday Monday, Americans around the country will pause to reflect on his achievements and remember his sacrifice.
"Dr. King’s fight to enforce the civil rights of African Americans was really a fight to strengthen the civil rights of all Americans.
"His words today are an inspiration that are often quoted and remembered for the power of their simplicity. His words helped to bring Americans closer together as a people.
· In looking back over some of the amazing, inspiring speeches Dr. King gave during his life, I was struck by a reoccurring theme in them, a belief I very much share. Even though Dr. King marched and fought and spent time in jail cells on behalf of African Americans, his ultimate goal was to carry forth the imperative that all Americans, no matter what our color, ethnic background, religion, gender, race or any other outward difference between us, that all Americans are created equal. That all of us have unalienable rights. That all of us, whether we worship in a church, or a temple, or a mosque or a synagogue, or in our own homes in our own way are all equally loved, without prejudice, by our respective Higher Power.
· I myself, was raised as a Catholic. In our church, there comes a point during the Mass where we turn to each other, say “Peace be with you,” or “La paz del Señor que este con usted” and shake hands. As a sign of peace, in recognition of what Dr. King dreamed of, I would appreciate it, if you turned to your neighbor now, shook hands and offer tidings of peace.
· Thank you very much. Now, in his last speech, the one he delivered on April 3, 1968, the night before he died, Dr. King talked about, what I think of, as his eternal optimism about the future. Even though black sanitation workers in Memphis, Tenn., were engaged in a bitter, difficult fight for improved working conditions, even though threats had been made against his life, Dr. King told the gathered people that he had seen the proverbial “Promised Land.”
"He said in that speech: “We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, 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.”
"Dr. King foresaw a moment like this. A moment in which a skinny black man with a funny last name would stand in a town like Cicero, in front of a group with African-Americans, and Italian-Americans and Lithuanian-Americans, and Polish-Americans and Czech & Bohemian-Americans and Mexican-Americans, Puertorriqueños and Latinos and Americans of all stripes and colors, that we would sit next to each other, shake hands and wish each other peace.
"If you seek the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., look around you. It’s happening right now, in this room, in all of us. Thank you and God bless you."
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