PBS Wisconsin Public Affairs

I WAS BORN BY THE RIVER IN A LITTLE OLD TENT AND JUST LIKE THE RIVER I'VE BEEN RUNNING EVER SINCE IT'S BEEN A LONG, A LONG TIME COMING BUT I KNOW CHANGE GONNA COME O, YES, IT WILL IT'S BEEN TOO HARD LIVING, BUT I'M AFRAID TO DIE 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S UP THERE BEYOND THE SKY IT'S BEEN A LONG, A LONG TIME COMING BUT I KNOW A CHANGE GONNA COME O, YES, IT WILL I GO TO THE MOVIES AND I GO DOWNTOWN SOMEBODY KEEP TELLING ME DON'T, DON'T HANG AROUND IT'S BEEN A LONG, A LONG TIME COMING BUT I KNOW A CHANGE GONNA COME O, YES IT WILL THEN I GO TO MY BROTHER AND I SAY, BROTHER, HELP ME, PLEASE BUT HE WINDS UP, SOMEHOW HE WINDS UP KNOCKING ME BACK DOWN, HE KNOCK ME BACK DOWN ON MY KNEES THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES THAT I'VE THOUGHT I COULDN'T LAST FOR LONG BUT NOW I THINK I'M ABLE TO CARRY ON IT'S BEEN A LONG, A LONG TIME COMING BUT I KNOW A CHANGE GONNA COME O, YES, IT WILL

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I DON'T KNOW HOW OLD HE IS, BUT YOUNG ELIJAH EDWARDS HAS AN OLD SOUL. WILL YOU JOIN ME IN SAYING THANK YOU TO HIM ONE MORE TIME.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I'M LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR REBECCA KLEEFISCH. UNFORTUNATELY, THE GOVERNOR COULD NOT BE WITH YOU TODAY, BUT I AM DELIGHTED TO BE HERE IN HIS STEAD. AND I GET TO WELCOME YOU TO WISCONSIN'S 38TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE AND CEREMONY HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., THE OLDEST CELEBRATION OF SAID KIND IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> AND NOW PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THIS CEREMONY, THE INCOMPARABLE DR. JONATHAN OVERBY!

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. HOW YOU DOING? DO YOU ALL REMEMBER BACK IN THE DAY WHEN WE DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF MONEY? OH, MAYBE THAT'S JUST ME.

LAUGHTER

>> MIGHT HAVE NOT BEEN A WHOLE LOT OF FOOD IN THE REFRIGERATOR. SOMEBODY GIVE ME AN AMEN ON THAT. >> AMEN! >> MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE TIME OF LIFE FOR US THAT WAS EASY. BUT THERE WERE THOSE MOMENTS IN SPITE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON THAT WE FOUND A WAY TO CELEBRATE EACH OTHER. ALL WE NEEDED WAS A FEW GOOD FRIENDS, SOME FAMILY MEMBERS, A RECORD PLAYER AND THE RADIO. SO I WANT TO INVITE YOU RIGHT NOW TO JUST COME ON, GET UP ON YOUR FEET AND LET'S CELEBRATE THE WAY WE SHOULD DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.'S BIRTHDAY. I DON'T CARE. I'LL DO IT ALL BY MYSELF, Y'ALL. COME ON! LET'S DO THIS! YEAH! >> ALL RIGHT. LET'S SEE WHAT YOU GOT. I SEE YOU OVER THERE. PUT YOUR HAND IN THE AIR. COME ON, LET'S CELEBRATE TODAY! YEAH! >> OH, COME ON. IT'S HIS BIRTHDAY. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TIMES IN OUR NATION WHEN PEOPLE WHO DON'T LOOK LIKE EACH OTHER COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THE GOODNESS OF THIS COUNTRY. COME ON, Y'ALL! >> GIVE YOURSELVES A BIG HAND. THANK YOU. YOU MAY BE SEATED. >> I NEED SOME OXYGEN RIGHT NOW, BUT I'LL MAKE IT. WELL, FOLKS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING OUT TO CELEBRATE WISCONSIN'S 38TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE AND CEREMONY HONORING THE REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. THIS DAY WE CELEBRATE IT ON HIS BIRTHDAY, JANUARY 15, 2018, ON THE ACTUAL DAY OF HIS BIRTHDAY, OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED AS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY. THE 2018 THEME POSES A QUESTION DO YOU REMEMBER? FOR THOSE WHO WOULD APPLY, THIS IS AN INVITATION TO REVISIT THOSE CHERISHED MEMORIES, THOSE TIMES WHEN INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, IN SPITE OF THE HARDSHIPS, IN SPITE OF THE JOBLESSNESS, IN SPITE OF HATRED, IN SPITE OF JUSTICE, WE FOUND A WAY TO EMBRACE EACH OTHER IN THE SPIRIT OF ACCEPTANCE, GOOD COMMUNITY AND, AS DR. KING LIVED AND TAUGHT US, IN THE SPIRIT OF LOVE. BY CONTRAST, 50 YEARS AFTER KING'S ASSASSINATION, THOSE TIMES BACK THEN ARE ODDLY FAMILIAR TODAY, WHERE NASTY PUBLIC DISCOURSE, VOID OF ANY SOCIAL ETIQUETTE, HATRED TOWARD THOSE WHO ARE DIFFERENT, FEAR OF THE STRANGER, FEAR OF THOSE WHOSE DAILY ATTIRE, COSTUMES, CUSTOMS, LANGUAGE, BELIEFS AND RITUALS ARE NOT LIKE OUR OWN, SOME SAY. WE SEE TODAY AN OVERT RACIAL DIVISIVENESS. IT AFFIRMS THAT WE AS A NATION MAY HAVE NEVER REALLY OVERCOME THE DISEASE OF RACISM. AND YET WITH THIS BACKDROP, WE REFER TO THIS DAY AS A HOLIDAY OF DR. KING, A BENEVOLENT LEADER WHO DARED TO DREAM FOR A BETTER NATION FOR ALL OF ITS PEOPLE. THERE IS A MOVEMENT AFOOT TO UPROOT THE SEEDS OF HIS SACRIFICE, MIRRORED BY SO MANY WOMEN AND MEN. BUT TODAY, BEGINNING TODAY, I INVITE YOU, I ASK YOU, I PLEAD WITH YOU TO REMEMBER THAT HIS DREAM IS NOT AN IMPOSSIBLE ONE TO REACH. IN FACT, ALL OF OUR JOURNEYS ARE FILLED WITH OPPORTUNITIES, IN SPITE OF UNBEARABLE SORROW, NO MATTER HOW HOPELESS, OUR LIVES ARE FILLED WITH THE CHANCE TO LOVE EACH OTHER, A LOVE THAT CAN BE EXTENDED WITH A HANDSHAKE, A HUG, A HELLO AND, ABOVE ALL, THE ABILITY TO LISTEN TO EACH OTHER, TO EMBRACE EACH OTHER, EVEN IF WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE. SO TODAY, LET US LOVE, LET US CELEBRATE EACH OTHER, LET US REMEMBER THE LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING. JOINING US TODAY ARE MEMBERS OF THE SIKH TEMPLE OF WISCONSIN. A SHOOTING TOOK PLACE AT THEIR TEMPLE. SIHKISM TODAY IS IN INDIA AND PAKISTAN TODAY. WHEN I ASKED THEM IF THEY WOULD COME, THEY SAID YES, BECAUSE WEE -- OUR RELIGION MIRRORS THAT OF DR. KING. SO HERE THEY ARE. WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING HARJINDER SINGH, A PRIEST, SURJIT SINGH, A PRIEST, BALHAIR DID YOU LAY, PRESIDENT, WITH MEMBERS DHARMENDER SINGH AND NIRMAL KAUR SINGH, PART OF THE SIKH SE TEMPLE OF WISCONSINR OUR INVOCATION. PLEASE WELCOME THEM.

APPLAUSE

STANDING OVATION

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR INVITING US FROM THE SIKH TEMPLE OF WISCONSIN TO CELEBRATE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.'S BIRTHDAY. WE HAVE A PRIEST HERE BY THE NAME OF HARJINDER SINGH AND HE WILL RECITE OUR PRAYER FROM THE SIKH RELIGION. THANK YOU. >> PLEASE ACCEPT MY GREETINGS. [SPEAKING INVOCATION IN A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH] >> SO NOW I WANT TO SHARE MY PRAYER, SO PLEASE STAND UP EVERYONE FOR PRAYER. IT IS AN HONOR AS SIKH AMERICAN TO SHARE PRAYER OF MY FAITH. SIKHISM, THE LARGEST RELIGION IN THE WORLD, TO TRIBUTE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. FIRST, MEDITATE UPON THE LORD AND THINK ABOUT [SPEAKING IN A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH ENGLISH.THE TRUE FATHER OF ALL,R THIS PRAYER. SACRIFICED HIS LIFE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND NONVIOLENCE AND PEACE. ALSO SACRIFICED HIS LIFE FOR FREEDOM OF ALL RELIGION, NONVIOLENCE AND PEACE. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ALSO STRUGGLED AND SACRIFICED HIS LIFE FOR THE SAME PRINCIPLES. HE BLESSED US WITH LOVE AND PEACE. PLEASE GIVE US SELF-CONFIDENCE, LOVE AND PEACE.

RECITING PRAYER

>> WHICH MEANS WITH THE NAME OF GOD, WE PRAY AND ASK THE ALL MIGHTY FOR THE WELL-BEING OF ALL HUMANITY, PROSPERITY FOR EVERYONE IN THE WORLDWIDE COMMUNITY, GLOBAL PEACE OF ENTIRE PLANET. [SPEAKING IN A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH] >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU TO THE SIKH TEMPLE OF WISCONSIN FOR JOINING US TODAY. WELL, WE'VE GOT SOME MUSIC FOR YOU. MAN, YOU ALL LOOK GOOD OVER THERE. LET ME SAY RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE HERE, THE VICTORY TRAVELERS, ORGANIZED BY DEACON REUBEN BURTON IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. THEY JUST GOT OFF THE ROAD. THEY HAD A CONCERT IN MISSISSIPPI YESTERDAY? AND THEY DROVE ALL THE WAY, DIDN'T STOP IN CHICAGO, AND THEY CAME HERE TODAY TO BE PART OF TODAY'S CEREMONY. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH SLEEP YOU HAD, BUT WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

APPLAUSE

>> AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET THIS PARTY STARTED WITH THE VICTORY TRAVELERS, ALL THE WAY FROM CHI-TOWN. PLEASE GIVE THEM A WARM WISCONSIN WELCOME. THE VICTORY TRAVELERS!

APPLAUSE

FORGIVE ME, LORD FORGIVE ME, LORD TRY ME ONE MORE TIME TRY ME ONE MORE TIME FORGIVE ME LORD FORGIVE ME 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 YOU KNOW THAT I'M A LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE OH, LORD, I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE YOU KNOW THAT I'M A LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE YES, I AM YOU KNOW THAT I'M LOOKING I'M SEEKING LORD, I'M PRAYING LORD, I'M PRAYING LORD, I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE YES, I AM CAN I SAY IT ONE MORE TIME FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE YOU KNOW THAT I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE YOU KNOW THAT I'M LOOKING YOU KNOW THAT I'M A LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE YOU KNOW THAT I'M LOOKING I'M SEEKING LORD, I'M PRAYING LORD, I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE I'M LOOKING HERE AND THERE I'M LOOKING HERE AND THERE I'M LOOKING EVERYWHERE I'M LOOKING EVERYWHERE HERE AND THERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE YES, I AM YES, I AM LOOKING HERE AND THERE YES YES, I AM YES, I AM YES, GOT TO BE A BETTER PLACE THERE'S GOT TO BE A BETTER PLACE I WANT TO LOOK I WANT GO YOU HAVE TO SING CAN YOU HEAR ME SING DO YOU WANT TO SEE HIM YES, I DO ONE OF THESE DAYS ONE OF THESE DAYS YEAH, YEAH LOOKING HERE AND THERE YES YES, I AM SEARCHING EVERYWHERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE YEAH, SEARCHING EVERYWHERE YOU KNOW THAT I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE O, YE

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> JUST A LITTLE UP TEMPO SONG. IF YOU LIKE IT, JUST PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER LIKE THAT. YOU KNOW WHAT IT SAYS? EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED YEAH, YEAH, LORD SINCE HE CAME AND TOOK MY LIFE EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED SINCE HE CAME AND TOOK MY LIFE EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED SINCE HE CAME AND TOOK MY LIFE EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED O, YEAH, YEAH I GOT A NEW WALK SINCE HE CAME I'VE GOT A NEW TALK O, SINCE HE CAME I GOT A WAY SINCE HE CAME I GOT A NEW WAY OF GIVING SINCE HE CAME ONE MORE TIME I GOT A NEW WALK SINCE HE CAME I GOT A NEW TALK SINCE HE CAME I GOT A NEW WAY OF LIVING SINCE HE CAME I'VE GOT A NEW WAY OF GIVING SINCE HE CAME YEAH SINCE HE CAME YEAH, CHANGED ME I LIKE A BIG CHANGE MY LIFE HAS BEEN CHANGED CAN YOU AGREE WITH ME LIFT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED SAID I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED THE THINGS I USED TO DO I JUST DON'T DO NO MORE THE PLACES THAT I USED TO GO I DON'T GO NO MORE I GO I BEEN CHANGED I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED YEAH I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED CLAP YOUR HANDS I BEEN CHANGED

CLAPPING

I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED ONE MORE TIME

CLAPPING

CAN I DO IT ONE MORE TIME I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED CAN YOU AGREE WITH ME I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED ONE MORE TIME HELP ME OUT

CLAPPING

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> I BEEN CHANGED. COME ON. DON'T LET THAT GO. I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED KEEP IT ON I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED I CAN'T COME OVER THERE I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED. BECAUSE YOU ALL SOUND GOOD DON'T THEY SOUND GOOD YOU ALL SOUND GOOD THANK YOU >> GIVE A BIG HAND TO THE VICTORY TRAVELERS!

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> ALL RIGHT. I'M SORRY. IF YOU GOT CHURCH IN YOU, YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN THESE SITUATIONS. I'M SO DELIGHTED TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY IN THE SPIRIT OF DR. KING TO STAND UP AND GREET EACH OTHER IN THE SPIRIT OF DR. KING. SAY HELLO RIGHT NOW TO A STRANGER NEARBY. PLEASE DO SO RIGHT NOW. [ATTENDEES GREETING ONE ANOTHER [ATTENDEES GREETING ONE ANOTHER

ATTENDEES GREETING ONE ANOTHER

>> THANK YOU TO LEOTHA STANLEY AND ONE ACCORD. GIVE LEOTHA STANLEY AND FRIENDS A BIG HAND THERE. THANK YOU.

APPLAUSE

>> LO LEOTHA IS MY VERY GOOD FRIEND. HE USED TO BABYSIT ME WHEN I WAS A VERY SMALL, SMALL BOY. YOU KNOW I'M GOING TO HEAR ABOUT THAT. ANYWAY, IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO NOW INTRODUCE TO YOU THE MILWAUKEE CHILDREN'S CHOIR. AND THEY ARE AGES FIVE TO 18, WITH CHORAL MUSIC EDUCATION AND PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCES THAT FOSTER CREATIVITY, PERSONAL EXPRESSION AND SOCIAL GROWTH. THEY'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE 1994. PLEASE WELCOME UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MARCOS MELENDEZ THE MILWAUKEE CHILDREN'S CHOIR. PLEASE GIVE THEM A BIG HAND.

APPLAUSE

I LIFT MY EYES TO THE HILLS KNOWING MY HELP IS COMING FROM YOU YOUR PEACE, YOU GIVE ME IN TIME OF THE STORM YOU ARE THE SOURCE OF MY STRENGTH YOU ARE THE STRENGTH OF MY LIFE I LIFE MY HANDS IN TOTAL PRAISE TO YOU LORD, I WILL LIFT MINE EYES TO THE HILLS KNOWING MY HELP IS COMING FROM YOU YOUR PEACE, YOU GIVE ME IN TIME OF THE STORM YOU ARE THE SOURCE OF MY STRENGTH YOU ARE THE STRENGTH OF MY LIFE I LIFE MY HANDS IN TOTAL PRAISE TO YOU AMEN, AMEN, AMEN AMEN, AMEN, AMEN AMEN, AMEN

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME AROUND TURN ME AROUND, TURN ME AROUND AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME AROUND I'M GONNA KEEP ON WALKIN', KEEP ON TALKIN' MARCHIN' UP TO FREEDOM LAND MARCHIN' UP TO FREEDOM LAND AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME AROUND TURN ME AROUND, TURN ME AROUND AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME AROUND I'M GONNA KEEP ON WALKIN', KEEP ON TALKIN' MARCHIN' UP TO FREEDOM LAND MARCHIN' UP TO FREEDOM LAND THERE ARE WORDS LIKE "FREEDOM" SWEET AND WONDERFUL TO SAY ON MY HEARTSTRINGS FREEDOM SINGS ALL DAY EVERY DAY AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME AROUND TURN ME AROUND, TURN ME AROUND AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME AROUND I'M GONNA KEEP ON WALKIN', KEEP ON TALKIN' MARCHIN' UP TO FREEDOM LAND MARCHIN' UP TO FREEDOM LAND THERE ARE WORDS LIKE "LIBERTY" THAT ALMOST MAKE ME CRY IF YOU HAD KNOWN WHAT I KNOW YOU WOULD KNOW WHY I CANNOT TURN AROUND NO, I CANNOT TURN AROUND NO, I CANNOT TURN AROUND NO, I CANNOT TURN AROUND NO, I CANNOT TURN AROUND NO, I CANNOT TURN AROUND NO, I CANNOT TURN AROUND NO, I CANNOT TURN AROUND AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME AROUND AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME AROUND I'M GONNA KEEP ON WALKIN', KEEP ON TALKIN' KEEP ON SINGING KEEP ON SHOUTING MARCHIN' UP TO FREEDOM LAND MARCHIN' UP TO FREEDOM LAND FREEDOM

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MARCOS MELENDEZ, MILWAUKEE CHILDREN'S CHOIR. THANK YOU.

APPLAUSE

>> TODAY, WE REMEMBER THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY. AND WE DO SO WITH THE MLK HONOR GUARD REPRESENTED TODAY BY MEMBERS OF THE 2nd WISCONSIN ARMY AND INTERNATIONAL GUARD, PRINCE HALL MASONS OF CAPITOL CITY LODGE NO. 2, TRUMPETER SAVANNAH VALIGURA. PLEASE STAND AS WE HONOR THOSE WOMEN AND MEN WHO PAID THAT ULTIMATE PRICE FOR FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. UPON THE HONOR GUARD'S EXIT, YOU MAY BE SEATED, AS GOSPEL SINGER MARY HENDERSON RENDERS "AMAZING GRACE."

BAGPIPES PLAYING

PRESENTATION OF COLORS

[BAGPIPES PLAYING "AMAZING GRACE"]

"TAPS" PLAYING

BAGPIPES PLAYING

RECESSIONAL OF COLOR GUARD

AMAZING GRACE, HOW SWEET THE SOUND THAT SAVED A WRETCH LIKE ME I ONCE WAS LOST, BUT NOW AM FOUND WAS BLIND, BUT NOW I SEE 'TWAS GRACE THAT TAUGHT MY HEART TO FEAR AND GRACE MY FEARS RELIEVED HOW PRECIOUS DID THAT GRACE APPEAR THE HOUR I FIRST BELIEVED THROUGH MANY DANGERS, TOILS AND SNARES I HAVE ALREADY COME WAS GRACE THAT BROUGHT ME SAFE THUS FAR AND GRACE WILL LEAD ME HOME YES NOTHING BUT GOD'S GRACE WILL LEAD ME HOME

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> MARY HENDERSON. COME ON, EVERYBODY, GIVE HER A BIG HAND. WONDERFUL GOSPEL ARTIST. THANK YOU. MARY HENDERSON.

APPLAUSE

>> AND NOW IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THE 2018MLK HERITAGE AWARD RECIPIENTS. TO THE ORGANIZATION 100 BLACK MEN OF MADISON, WHO SEEKS TO SERVE AS A BEACON OF LEADERSHIP BY UTILIZING THEIR DIVERSE TALENTS TO CREATE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE BLACK CHILDREN ARE MOTIVATED TO ACHIEVE AND EMPOWER AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT STAKEHOLDERS IN THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. WITH A COMMITMENT TO THE INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH BASED ON RESPECT FOR FAMILY, SPIRITUALITY, JUSTICE AND INTEGRITY. ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, 100 BLACK MEN OF MADISON IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2018MLK HERITAGE AWARD. HERE TO ACCEPT THE AWARD IS DR. FLOYD ROSE.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

STANDING OVATION

>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR KLEEFISCH, SECRETAR SECRETARY AN BEHALF OF THE 100 MEN OF MADISON, THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, THANK YOU. WE ARE INDEED HUMBLED BY THE BESTOWAL OF THIS RECOGNITION. TODAY WE HONOR DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., A MAN WHOSE LEADERSHIP RESHAPED OUR NATION'S CONSCIOUSNESS AND WHOSE LEGACY CHALLENGES ALL TO PURSUE JUSTICE, EQUALITY AND PEACE. HOPEFULLY, THIS GATHERING WILL INSPIRE US TO REDEDICATE OUR ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE THOSE IDEALS. AGAIN, THANK YOU AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO GUIDE YOUR STEPS.

APPLAUSE

>> COME ON. GIVE THEM A BIG HAND. 100 BLACK MEN OF MADISON.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> WELL-DESERVED. VERY WELL-DESERVED. THANK YOU, DR. ROSE. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, BROOKS BROTHERS AIN'T GOT ANYTHING ON YOU FELLOWS OVER THERE. I WANT TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW. ONCE AGAIN, THEY LOOK GOOD, TOO, GIVE A BIG HAND FOR THE VICTORY TRAVELERS FROM CHI-TOWN WITH OUR GOSPEL MUSIC TODAY. I'LL BE STANDING AT THE JUDGMENT BAR YEAH, I'LL BE STANDING YEAH, JUST AS SOON I GOT TO GET MY I'M GOING HOME YES, I AM I'LL BE STANDING AT THE JUDGMENT BAR YES, I WILL I'LL BE STANDING AT THE JUDGMENT BAR YES, I WILL YEAH, JUST AS SOON I GOT TO GET MYSELF ONE MORE TIME YEAH I'LL BE STANDING AT THE JUDGMENT BAR YES, I WILL YEAH, I'LL BE STANDING I WISH I HAD ONE WITNESS IN HERE JUST AS SOON I'VE GOT TO GET GOING HOME, YES, I AM YEAH, YEAH I'LL BE STANDING AT THE JUDGMENT BAR YES, I WILL I'LL BE STANDING THERE TO TAKE MY PLACE YES, I WILL JUST AS SOON AS I CAN GET YEAH, JUST AS SOON AS I CAN GET YEAH, JUST AS SOON YEAH, SOMEBODY, I'LL SEE JESUS JUST AS SOON O, JUST AS SOON YEAH, JUST AS SOON I GOT TO GET MY ANSWER I'M GOING HOME I'M GOING HOME YEAH, I'M GOING HOME, GOING HOME I'M GOING HOME, YEAH I'M GOING HOME YEAH, I'M GOING HOME YEAH, I'M GOING HOME YEAH, I'M GOING HOME YEAH

APPLAUSE

>> THE VICTORY TRAVELERS FROM CHICAGO. THANK YOU. COME ON, GIVE THEM A BIG HAND. THEY TRAVELED A LONG WAY TO COME HERE.

APPLAUSE

>> OUR GUEST TODAY, OUR GUEST SPEAKER, HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO HELPING OTHERS NAVIGATE THEIR WAY THROUGH PAINFUL EXPERIENCES, AND HE'S DONE SO BY CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH THEIR PURPOSE. ORIGINALLY FROM MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, HE WAS BORN THERE AND RAISED IN THE INFAMOUS 53206, SAME AREA I GREW UP IN IN MILWAUKEE, THE MOST INCARCERATED ZIP CODE IN AMERICA. DESPITE THE FACT THAT MANY OF HIS CHILDHOOD PEERS FELL PREY TO HOMICIDE AND INCARCERATION, HE MANAGED TO SURVIVE THE PITFALLS OF INNER CITY LIFE AND ULTIMATELY ACHIEVED AN IMPORTANT

GOAL

GRADUATING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN EDUCATIONAL POLICIES AND COMMUNITY STUDIES. THERE AT UW-MILWAUKEE HE DISCOVERED HIS PASSION FOR USING HIS VOICE TO GIVE HOPE TO THE HOPELESS CHILDREN OF THE GHETTO, NEVER FORGETTING THAT THE MANY THAT WERE NOT AFFORDED THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS HE. FOLLOWING THE TRAGIC MURDER OF HIS GOD SON, HE CO-FOUNDED THE FLOOD THE HOOD WITH DREAMS ORGANIZATION AND CO-FOUNDED I WILL NOT DIE YOUNG CAMPAIGN. WITH A MISSION ROOTED IN THE PROMISE THAT HE GAVE HIS GOD SON UPON HIS DEATH, THAT HIS DEATH WOULD NOT BE IN VAIN. PLEASE WELCOME OUR GUEST SPEAKER, MUHIBB DYER.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

GOAL

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY NAME IS MUHIBB DYER. I REPRESENT AN ORGANIZATION OUT OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN CALLED "FLOOD THE HOOD WITH DREAMS" AND THE "I WILL NOT DIE YOUNG" CAMPAIGN. WHY DO WE CALL OUR ORGANIZATION "FLOOD THE HOOD WITH DREAMS"? ABOUT 13 YEARS AGO WE STARTED GOING TO SCHOOLS ASKING YOUNG KIDS THE QUESTION WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? THEY WOULD SAY, I WANT TO BE A DOCTOR. I WANT TO BE A LAWYER. I WANT TO BE A BUSINESSMAN OR BUSINESS WOMAN. I WANT TO OWN A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY, RULE THE WORLD. THEN THERE WOULD BE ONE KID IN THE BACK THROWING SPITBALLS. I'D SAY YOUNG MAN, WHAT YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? I SAY, REALLY, YOUNG MAN, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? AND HE'LL LOOK ME DEAD IN THE EYE AND EXCUSE MY LANGUAGE, HE WOULD SAY DON'T COME AROUND HERE TALKING ABOUT NO DREAM, BECAUSE WHERE I COME FROM WE DON'T MAKE IT PAST THE AGE OF 21. AND WHERE I COME FROM I WAS WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND I SAW MY FRIEND GET SHOT IN THE HEAD AND THE HOOD TOLD ME I BETTER NOT TELL. WE AIN'T SEEN OUR DADDIES ONE DAY IN MY LIFE. MY LITTLE SISTER GOT MOLESTED BY MY AUNTIE'S BOYFRIEND. THEY SAID SHE WAS TOO FAST AND DESERVED IT ANYWAY. SO WE STARTED CALLING OUR ORGANIZATION "FLOOD THE HOOD WITH DREAMS" BECAUSE WE BELIEVE LIKE THE GREAT DR. KING THAT ALL GOD'S CHILDREN, EVEN THE KIDS WHO COME FROM STREETS IN MILWAUKEE LIKE BURLEIGH, GARFIELD, GALENA, VINE, CENTER, BUFFUM, THE SO-CALLED THROW-AWAY CHILDREN OF THE STATE, THEY DESERVE A DREAM TOO. IF YOU BELIEVE LIKE I BELIEVE, CLAP YOUR HANDS AND MAKE SOME NOISE.

APPLAUSE

GOAL

>> NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DR. KING WAS A BLACK PREACHER. AND IN THE BLACK CHURCH THEY HAVE A TRADITION CALLED THE RESPONSE. AND THAT TRADITION IS MEANT TO RAISE THE SPIRIT OF THE ROOM. SO LET'S RAISE THE SPIRIT OF THE ROOM IN THE GREAT DOCTOR'S HONOR. IF YOU'RE GLAD YOU WOKE UP THIS MORNING, SAY YES. >> YES! >> IF YOU KNOW THERE'S A GOD INSIDE YOU, SAY YES. >> YES! >> IF YOU'RE TIRED OF THE WRICHH GETTING RICHER AND THE POOR GETTING POORER, SAY YES. >> YES! >> IF YOU KNOW DR. KING'S DREAM IS STILL ALIVE, SAY YES. >> YES! >> WHEN I SAY LOVE, YOU SAY LIFE. >> LOVE. >> LIFE. >> LOVE. >> WHEN I SAY FREEDOM, YOU SAY FREEDOM. >> FREEDOM. >> CLAP YOUR HANDS AND MAKE SOME NOISE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

APPLAUSE

GOAL

>> IF DR. KING WERE HERE TODAY, HE WOULD SAY IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY REGARDLESS OF THE INCLEMENT WEATHER. AND HE PROBABLY WOULD BE SO HAPPY THAT HE HAS A HOLIDAY, A NATIONAL HOLIDAY IN HIS NAME. CLAP YOUR HANDS AND MAKE IN NOISE FOR THAT, BECAUSE HE DESERVES IT.

APPLAUSE

GOAL

>> HE WOULD BE HONORED THAT ALL OF YOU GOOD PEOPLE WEATHERED THE STORM AND CAME HERE TODAY. HE MAYBE WOULD BE SO IMPRESSED BY THE CHOIR, BY THE SINGING, BY THE STATESMEN, BY THE DIGNITY TEARS. BUT HIM, BEING THE MAN THAT WAS GIVEN THE PURPOSE OF CHALLENGING OUR CONSCIOUSNESS, HE MAY SAY IT IS EASY TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF A DEAD MAN. MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO LIVE BY THE PRINCIPLES HE ESPOUSED. DO YOU REALLY REMEMBER ME? 'CAUSE IF YOU REALLY REMEMBERED ME, IT WOULDN'T BE SO EASY FOR YOU TO FORGET ABOUT THE CHILDREN OF 53206. THE MOST INCARCERATED ZIP CODE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, MY HOMETOWN. AND IF YOU REALLY REMEMBERED ME, YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A LITTLE BLACK BOY THAT IS THERE LIVING IN A DELAPIDATED BUILDING THAT REALLY WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT MY DREAM, BUT THE JAIL KEEPS DROWNING IT OUT. AND THE JAIL SAYS WEAR MY SUIT, AND THE LITTLE BOY SAYS NO. IF I GO TO SCHOOL AND GET AN EDUCATION, I CAN BEAT YOU. YOU CAN'T BEAT ME. YOU'RE GOING TO BE JUST LIKE YOUR NO-GOOD DADDY. YOU GOING TO BE LIKE EVERYBODY WHO LOOK LIKE YOU, TALK LIKE YOU, GREW UP IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE YOU. THIS IS WHERE YOU BELONG. WHAT, YOU WANT TO BE A DOCTOR? NO. THAT'S FOR WHITE PEOPLE. YOU WANT TO BE A LAWYER? YOU WANT TO BE A BUSINESSMAN? YOU WANT TO OWN A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY? NO. THAT'S FOR THE SMALL PEOPLE OF THE WORLD. AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT LITTLE BLACK BOYS AREN'T SMART. SO HE WILL PUT THIS SUIT ON AND HE WILL SAY I WILL WEAR YOUR SUIT BECAUSE AFTER ALL WHAT ELSE DO I HAVE TO LIVE FOR? AND IMAGINE THE LITTLE BOY LOOKING UP TO THE HEAVENS AND CURSING GOD MAYBE, BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT 50 YEARS AFTER THE DEMISE OF THE GREAT DR. KING HE IS STILL NOT AFFORDED THE RIGHT AS SOME OF HIS WHITE COUNTERPARTS.

APPLAUSE

GOAL

>> AND THE BOY LOOKS UP TO THE HEAVENS, AND HE SCREAMS EMPHATICALLY, IT'S LIKE I'M SITTING IN THE JAIL CELL, LORD. SOMEBODY REMEMBER ME. IT'S LIKE I'M SITTING IN THE JAIL CELL, LORD, SOMEBODY LISTEN TO ME. IT'S LIKE I'M SITTING IN THE JAIL CELL, LORD, ON DEATH ROW, COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS, 'CAUSE I KNOW THEY COMING. THEY ALL COMING. AND IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THIS. YOU SEE, LORD, THEY NEVER TOLD ME THAT THE DREAM WAS IN ME. THEY NEVER TOLD ME THAT YOU WAS ALWAYS THERE. SO IN TURN I BELIEVED WHAT I SAW. AND WHAT I SAW WAS A DADDY THAT WAS NEVER AROUND AND A MOMMA THAT WAS ALWAYS CRYING 'CAUSE WE WERE ALWAYS BROKE WHEN THERE WAS MONEY OUTSIDE. AND RATS AND ROACHES AND MATTRESSES WE SLEPT ON AND PEOPLE TOLD ME I HAD TO WAIT 12 YEARS TO GET PAID. MY TEACHERS TOLD ME I HAD TO WAIT 12 YEARS TO GET PAID WHILE SOME OF THEM GOT PAID OFF OF ME MR.WHETHER I LEARNED OR NOT WHEN THERE WAS MONEY OUTSIDE. WHAT ELSE WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO? THEY NEVER TOLD ME THE DREAM WAS IN ME. THEY NEVER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS ALWAYS HERE. AND IF DR. KING WAS HERE TODAY, HE MAY SAY HOW CAN YOU SAY YOU REALLY REMEMBER ME, WHEN THE REASON WHY GOD CREATED ME IN THE FIRST PLACE WAS FOR THE POOR, WAS FOR THE OPPRESSED, WAS FOR THE VICTIMIZED, WAS FOR THE CHILDREN OF 53206. NEVER SAY YOU REMEMBER ME UNLESS YOU REMEMBER THEM. CLAP YOUR HANDS AND MAKE SOME NOISE.

APPLAUSE

GOAL

>> AND IF DR. KING WAS HERE TODAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HE MAY LOOK OVER THE WHOLE UNITED STATES AND HE WOULD BE SO PROUD THAT 900 STREETS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ARE NAMED AFTER HIM. AND HE WOULD BE PROUD THAT MAYBE WE BUILT A BIG STATUTE IN THE MALL IN D.C. IN HIS HONOR. BUT HIM BEING A SPECIAL MAN, A MAN OF CONSCIENCE, MAYBE HE WOULD STILL SAY DO YOU REALLY REMEMBER ME? YOU SEE, IT IS EASY TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF A DEAD MAN. MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO LIVE BY THE PRINCIPLES HE ESPOUSED. DO YOU REMEMBER ME?

APPLAUSE

GOAL

>> 'CAUSE IF YOU REALLY REMEMBER ME, YOU WILL REALIZE THAT SAYING THAT I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH IS EASY. SAYING THE PART ABOUT THE LITTLE BLACK GIRLS AND THE LITTLE BLACK BOYS AND THE LITTLE WHITE BOYS AND THE LITTLE WHITE GIRLS IS EASY. LITTLE BLACK GIRLS AND LITTLE BLACK BOYS JOINING HANDS IN SISTER AND BROTHERHOOD. BUT HOW CAN THEY REALLY JOIN HANDS IN SISTER AND BROTHERHOOD, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WHEN THEY ARE LETTING GO OF THE HAND OF LIFE RIGHT HERE IN WISCONSIN EVERY DAY? WHEN LITTLE WHITE BOYS AND LITTLE WHITE GIRLS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE ARE DYING OF AN OPIOID ADDICTION AND LITTLE BLACK BOYS AND LITTLE BLACK GIRLS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE STATE ARE DYING IN THE HAIL OF BULLET FIRE. MAYBE DR. KING WOULD SAY HOW DID YOU FORGET ABOUT THE CHILDREN? AND WHAT MADE YOU FORGET ABOUT THE CHILDREN? WHAT MADE US CREATE A WORLD WHEN CHILDREN ARE RUNNING TOWARDS DREAMS, HOPES, ASPIRATIONS, THEY RUNNING FOR THE CASKET. YOU SAY YOU REMEMBER ME? NO, YOU'VE FORGOTTEN ALL ABOUT ME. WHY HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN ABOUT ME? WAS IT THE POWER? WAS IT THE PRESTIGE? WAS IT THE TITLES? WAS IT TRYING TO BE A BIG MAN OR A BIG WOMAN? OR WAS IT THE MONEY? YEAH, MAYBE IT WAS THE MONEY. MAYBE DR. KING SAY YOU FORGOT ABOUT GOD AND YOU WORSHIP MONEY. YOU SAY, PLEASE, LORD, MONEY, MONEY, MONEY, MONEY, GOD, NEVER LEAVE ME, BLESS ME WITH YOUR CAUSE AND CLOTHES AND DIAMOND SINGS. MONEY, NEVER LEAVE ME. IF DR. KING WAS HERE, HE'D SAY YOU DON'T REMEMBER ME BECAUSE YOU FORGOT ABOUT THE CHILDREN. YOU DON'T REMEMBER MEAL 'CAUSE YOU FORGOT ABOUT GOD HIMSELF. BUT IF WE WANT TO DO BETTER THAN THAT, CLAP YOUR HANDS AND MAKE SOME NOISE.

APPLAUSE

GOAL

>> BUT IF DR. KING WAS HERE TODAY, MAYBE HE WOULD SAY TO HIMSELF, BEING SO THANKFUL THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF BOOKS TODAY THAT ARE WRITTEN IN HIS NAME. CLAP YOUR HANDS FOR THAT.

APPLAUSE

GOAL

>> AND MAYBE THE GREAT KING WOULD BE SO HONORED THAT SO MANY SCHOOLS BEAR HIS NAME. BUT HIM BEING A SPECIAL MAN WITH A SPECIAL PURPOSE, HE WOULD STILL QUESTION US. HE WOULD SAY, IT IS EASY TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF A DEAD MAN. SO, SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO LIVE BY THE PRINCIPLES HE ESPOUSED. DO YOU REALLY REMEMBER ME? DO YOU REMEMBER MY SACRIFICE? DO YOU REMEMBER THE WATER HOSES? DO YOU REMEMBER THE JAIL TIME? DO YOU REMEMBER HOW THE FBI HAD ME UNDER SURVEILLANCE? DO YOU REMEMBER HOW MY HOUSE WAS FIRE BOMBED? DO YOU REMEMBER? DO YOU REMEMBER THAT I WAS STABBED IN THE CHEST AND THEY SAID I CAME A COUGH AWAY FROM MY DEATH? DO YOU REMEMBER THE LORRAINE HOTEL? DO YOU REMEMBER THAT SNIPER? DO YOU REMEMBER HOW I TOOK THE BULLET TO SAVE THE SOUL OF AMERICA? DO YOU REMEMBER?

APPLAUSE

GOAL

>> DO YOU REMEMBER? DO YOU REMEMBER? DID YOU EVER THINK ABOUT WHAT I REALLY GAVE UP? I NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO SEE MY KIDS GROW UP. I NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO WALK MY DAUGHTER DOWN THE AISLE. THE LAST 40 YEARS OF MY WIFE'S LIFE I WAS NOT THERE TO HOLD HER IN MY ARMS. DO YOU REALLY REMEMBER ME? 'CAUSE IF YOU REMEMBER ME, THEN HOW COULD YOU BE SO OFFENDED BY A FOOTBALL PLAYER TODAY KNEELING IN THE PROTEST?

APPLAUSE

GOAL

>> IF YOU REMEMBER ME, THAT'S A BABY PROTEST. THAT'S A BABY PROTEST IN TERMS OF WHO I REALLY WAS. IF YOU REALLY REMEMBERED ME, HOW COULD YOU BE SO OFFENDED WHEN A YOUNG ACTIVIST SAYS THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER BECAUSE THE VERY REASON YOU HERE TODAY IS TO HONOR A BLACK LIFE THAT MATTERED?

APPLAUSE

GOAL

>> AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE LADDER, THE LADDER THAT WAS ME, THE PROTONS, NEUTRONS, ELECTRONS, THE 46 CHROMOSOMES, THE 100 MILLION CELLS, THAT WAS ONCE ME. YOU ARE SAYING TODAY THAT IT WAS GREAT AND THAT SAME GREATNESS IS IN YOU AND IS IN YOU AND IS IN YOU REGARDLESS OF YOUR RACE, YOUR CREED, YOUR COLOR. AND THAT'S WHAT I REALLY MEANT WHEN I SAID WE WANT TO SPEED UP THE DAY WHEN ALL GOD'S CHILDREN, BLACKS AND WHITES AND JEWS, GENTILES, PROTESTANTS, CATHOLICS AND MUSLIMS. IF HE WAS HERE, HE PROBABLY WOULD EVEN SAY MUSLIMS AND SIKHS WOULD ALL JOIN HANDS AND SING IN THE WORDS OF THAT WHOLE NEGRO SPIRITUAL. DO YOU REMEMBER ME? DO YOU REMEMBER THE GREAT KING? BECAUSE IF YOU REMEMBERED THE GREAT KING, THEN MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, TAKE A FEW WORDS OF ADVICE FROM A DEAD MAN. YOU SEE, THERE WAS THE STORY OF THESE TWO BROTHERS. THE TWO BROTHERS LIVED SIDE BY SIDE FOR 40 YEARS. JUST LIKE SOME BROTHERS SOMETIMES, THEY FALL OUT AND THEY HAVE A DISAGREEMENT. ONE DAY, A CARPENTER KNOCKED ON THE DOOR OF ONE OF THE BROTHERS. THE BROTHER LET HIM IN. THE CARPENTER ASKED FOR SOME WORK. THE BROTHER SAID SURE. I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU TO DO. BUILD ME A GREAT, BIG, OLD FENCE. I DON'T WANT TO EVER SEE MY BROTHER AGAIN IN MY LIFE. I DON'T CARE IF HE DIES. I'M NOT GOING TO HIS FUNERAL. I HATE MY BROTHER. CAN YOU DO THAT FOR ME? AND THE CARPENTER SAID, SURE, I CAN. I GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU. SO THE BROTHER WENT TO TOWN. MUCH TO HIS SURPRISE, WHEN HE GOT BACK, THE CARPENTER DIDN'T BUILD A FENCE AT ALL, BUT HE BUILT A BRIDGE THAT WAS BETWEEN THE PROPERTY OF THE TWO BROTHERS. BEFORE HE COULD GIVE THAT CARPENTER A PIECE OF HIS MIND, HIS BROTHER WAS ALREADY RUNNING ACROSS THE BRIDGE SAYING, OH, MY BROTHER, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. YOU SEE, I WOULD HAVE BUILT A FENCE MYSELF. BUT THAT'S WHY YOU SO BLESSED. YOU'RE SO FORGIVEN. YOU'RE SO CARING AND I LOVE YOU. SO AS THE CARPENTER WAS PACKING UP HIS TOOLS, THE BROTHERS LOOKED OVER TO THE SIDE AND THEY SAW HE WAS LEAVING AND THEY SAID, PLEASE, DON'T GO, WE WANT TO PUT SOME MORE MONEY IN YOUR POCKET. THE CARPENTER SAID, I'M SORRY, BROTHER, I HAVE MORE BRIDGES TO BUILD. IF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WERE HERE TODAY, HE WOULD ASK YOU ARE YOU A BRIDGE-BUILDER OR YOU ABOUT SETTING UP FENCES?

APPLAUSE

GOAL

>> HE WOULD ASK POLITICALLY HERE AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, ARE WE BUILDING BRIDGES OR ARE WE BUILDING FENCES? ARE WE JUST TRYING TO COLOR THE STAGE RED OR BLUE, OR ARE WE WORKING TOGETHER? CLAP YOUR HANDS AND MAKE SOME NOISE.

APPLAUSE

GOAL

>> IF HE WAS HERE TODAY, DR. KING WOULD SAY I BE BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN THE RACES. I BE BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE SUBURBS. I'LL BE BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN THE TOP HALF OF THE STATE AND THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE STATE. YOU SEE, IF DR. KING WAS HERE TODAY, HE WOULD SAY IT IS EASY TO CELEBRATE A DEAD MAN. MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO LIVE BY THE PRINCIPLES HE ESPOUSED. DO YOU REALLY REMEMBER ME? 'CAUSE IF YOU REMEMBER ME, IF YOU REMEMBER ME, UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE A DREAM WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE A SPEECH. IT WAS INTENDED TO BE A WAY OF LIFE.

APPLAUSE

GOAL

>> THE BATON IS PASSED TO YOU. TAKE THAT BATON AND LIVE IT OUT. THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL MY WORDS "FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST, THANK GOD ALL MIGHTY WE ARE FREE AT LAST" NOT BE A SPEECH, BUT REALITY. DO WE REMEMBER HIM?

APPLAUSE

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

STANDING OVATION

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

GOAL

>> OKAY. I'M DONE. MUHIBB DYER. GIVE HIM ANOTHER ROUND WARM OF APPLAUSE.

APPLAUSE

GOAL

>> AND NOW TO SHARE AN EXCERPT OF DR. KING'S 1963 SPEECH "I HAVE A DREAM," HERE IS JALEN MCCOLLUM, FIRST-YEAR STUDENT AT MATC.

APPLAUSE

GOAL

>> AND EVEN SO, 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 MY FOUR LITTLE CHILDREN WILL ONE DAY LIVE IN A NATION WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE JUDGED BY THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER. I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY, EVEN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI WILL BE TRAN FORMED INTO AN OASIS OF FREEDOM AND JUSTICE. I HAVE A DREAM TODAY. 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 THERE IN ALABAMA, LITTLE BLACK BOYS AND BLACK GIRLS WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN HANDS WITH LITTLE WHITE BOYS AND WHITE GIRLS AS SISTERS AND BROTHERS. I HAVE A DREAM TODAY. I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE EXALTED, AND 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 MEN, ALL FLESH SHALL SEE IT TOGETHER. THIS IS OUR HOPE, AND 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. AND THIS WILL BE THE DAY WHEN ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO SING WITH A NEW MEANING, "MY COUNTRY, 'TIS OF THEE, SWEET LAND OF LIBERTY, OF THEE I SING. LAND WHERE MY FATHERS DIED, LAND OF THE PILGRIM'S 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 SNOW-CAPPED 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. AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS, WHEN WE ALLOW FREEDOM TO RING, WHEN WE LET IT RING FROM EVERY VILLAGE AND EVERY HAMLET, EVERY STATE AND EVERY CITY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO SPEED UP THE DAY WHEN ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN, BLACK MEN AND WHITE MEN, JEWS AND GENTILES, PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS, WILL BE ABLE TO SING IN THE WORDS OF THE OLD NEGRO SPIRITUAL "FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST, THANK GOD ALL MIGHTY WE ARE FREE AT LAST"!

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

STANDING OVATION

SELF-EVIDENT

>> JALEN MCCOLLUM. ONCE AGAIN, ALL THE WAY FROM MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, AND THEY LOOK REALLY, REALLY HANDSOME HERE, ALL THE WAY FROM THE CITY THAT I GREW UP IN, A LOT OF FOLKS -- ARE THERE OTHER FOLKS HERE IN MILWAUKEE IN THE AUDIENCE HERE? ALL RIGHT. SO IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, HOPING THAT YOU WOULD GET HERE OVER THE YEARS AND FINALLY YOU ARE HERE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MARCOS MELENDEZ. WE'RE SO DELIGHTED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND DON'T THEY SING WONDERFUL? BEAUTIFUL SINGING. SO HERE THEY ARE AGAIN, THE MILWAUKEE CHILDREN'S CHOIR.

APPLAUSE

SELF-EVIDENT

WHEN THE WAVES ROLL ON OVER THE WATERS AND THE OCEAN CRIES WE LOOK TO OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS TO EXPLAIN OUR LIVES AS IF A CHILD COULD TELL US WHY THAT AS SURE AS THE SUNRISE AS SURE AS THE SEA AS SURE AS THE WIND IN THE TREES WE RISE AGAIN IN THE FACES OF OUR CHILDREN WE RISE AGAIN IN THE VOICES OF OUR SONG WE RISE AGAIN IN THE WAVES OUT ON THE OCEAN AND THEN WE RISE AGAIN WHEN THE LIGHT GOES DARK WITH THE FORCES OF CREATION ACROSS THE STORMY SKY WE LOOK TO REINCARNATION TO EXPLAIN OUR LIVES AS IF A CHILD COULD TELL US WHY THAT AS SURE AS THE SUNRISE AS SURE AS THE SEA AS SURE AS THE WIND IN THE TREES WE RISE AGAIN IN THE FACES OF OUR CHILDREN WE RISE AGAIN IN THE VOICES OF OUR SONG WE RISE AGAIN IN THE WAVES OUT ON THE OCEAN AND THEN WE RISE AGAIN WE RISE AGAIN IN THE FACES OF OUR CHILDREN WE RISE AGAIN IN THE VOICES OF OUR SONG WE RISE AGAIN IN THE WAVES OUT ON THE OCEAN AND THEN WE RISE AGAIN AND THEN WE RISE AGAIN WE RISE AGAIN

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

SELF-EVIDENT

>> THE MILWAUKEE CHILDREN'S CHOIR!

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

SELF-EVIDENT

>> HERE TO PRESENT THE OFFICIAL STATE PROCLAMATION HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. IS REBECCA KLEEFISCH, THE 44TH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN. SHE WAS ELECTED TO THE POSITION ON NOVEMBER 2 OF 2010 AS THE RUNNING MATE TO GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER. PLEASE WELCOME HER TO THE PODIUM.

APPLAUSE

SELF-EVIDENT

>> TODAY IS A SPECIAL DAY TO HONOR AN EXTRAORDINARY MAN. DR. KING WAS A PATRIOT. HE WAS A POET. HE WAS A PIONEER. BUT WE MUST NOT FORGET HE WAS A PASTOR. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. LOVED THE LORD. AND SO WHEN I REFLECT ON TODAY'S SPEECHES, ONE IN PARTICULAR, I THINK TO MYSELF THAT ALL OF THE CHILDREN OF WISCONSIN WERE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THE HARD THING, NOT JUST THE SIMPLE THING, REMEMBERING A LEGACY OF HOLDING THOSE CHILDREN'S HANDS, BUT THE HARD THING OF HOLDING ON TIGHT EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS THEY WANT TO LET GO. SO LET US RESOLVE TODAY ON THIS 38TH CELEBRATION TO DO THE HARD THING AND TRULY HONOR THE LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WHEREAS THIS IS THE OLDEST OFFICIAL STATE CEREMONY HONORING DR. KING AND THE 38TH YEAR THAT THE STATE OF WISCONSIN HAS HELD A COMMEMORATION IN DR. KING'S HONOR, IN THE TRUE SPIRIT OF GOODWILL AND COMMUNITY BY LIVING THE DREAM AND SERVING THE CAUSES OF EQUALITY, PEACE, JUSTICE AND FREEDOM, AND THIS YEAR'S THEME IS "DO YOU REMEMBER," NOW THEREFORE I, SCOTT WALKER, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2018 AS THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND I COMMEND THIS OBSERVANCE TO ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.

APPLAUSE

SELF-EVIDENT

>> THANK YOU, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR REBECCA KLEEFISCH. AND NOW AS IT HAS BEEN THE TRADITION, WE PASS THIS OUT TO THE AUDIENCE AND FOR 37 YEARS IT HAS ALWAYS COME BACK. SO WHO WOULD LIKE TO --

APPLAUSE

SELF-EVIDENT

>> MAY I ASK YOUR NAME? DIANE SMALL? YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR LIKE THREE OR FOUR YEARS, HAVEN'T YOU? ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A RESERVE NEXT TIME IN THE AUDIENCE. ALL RIGHT. THERE IT GOES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR KLEEFISCH. AND NOW, AS PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, PRODUCTION CREW MEMBERS, ORGANIZERS, DAIS GUESTS AND VOLUNTEERS, I OFFER SPECIAL THANKS TO THE DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, AS THEY COME ON STAGE TO JOIN ME NOW.

APPLAUSE

SELF-EVIDENT

>> LET US STAND TOGETHER SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE HELPED. PLEASE CONTINUE GIVING THEM A BIG HAND AND JOIN ME HERE AT THE PODIUM.

APPLAUSE

SELF-EVIDENT

>> LET US STAND TOGETHER SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, AS WE DEPART THIS PLACE. EVEN IN THE MIDST OF CELEBRATION, MINDFUL THAT THERE IS MUCH TO OVERCOME, BUT TOGETHER WE SHALL. THERE ARE FAILURES. THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT HAPPEN THAT WE DIDN'T INTEND AS A NATION. OUR FAILURE TO ACCEPT OTHERS WHO ARE DIFFERENT, INCLUDING THOSE WHO SPEAK AND DRESS AND WHOSE LANGUAGE AND CUSTOMS ARE DIFFERENT. BUT THERE'S ALSO BEEN AN AWAKENING, LARGELY BY WOMEN AND GIRLS, WHO HAVE HAD THE COURAGE TO SAY "ME TOO," BUT THEY ALSO SAY" NO MORE." LET US SING TOGETHER THAT WE CAN BE A BETTER NATION. WE CAN OVERCOME. WE SHALL OVERCOME WE SHALL OVERCOME WE SHALL OVERCOME SOMEDAY OH, DEEP IN MY HEART, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE SHALL OVERCOME SOMEDAY >> ONE MORE TIME, LET'S SING IT. WE SHALL OVERCOME WE SHALL OVERCOME WE SHALL OVERCOME SOMEDAY OH, DEEP IN MY HEART, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE SHALL OVERCOME SOMEDAY

APPLAUSE

SELF-EVIDENT

>> EVERYONE, THAT CONCLUDES THIS ANNUAL TRIBUTE AND CEREMONY HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR REBECCA KLEEFISCH AND ALL WHO HELPED MAKE THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE, INCLUDING THE LATE REVEREND VERNON VISICK, THANK YOU. I'M JONATHAN OVERBY. AND MAY YOUR WEEK BE FILLED WITH PEACE AND HARMONY. >> LET'S GO OUT WITH A CELEBRATION. I WANT TO CELEBRATE. LET'S GO! I ASKED MY MOTHER, HOW COULD I KNOW THIS MAN DON'T YOU SEE, YOU GOT TO BE BORN AGAIN GOT TO BE BORN OH, YOU MUST HAVE THE FIRE IN THE HOLY GHOST AND THE BURNING FIRE GOT A RELIGION YOU GOT TO MOVE, SHOUT I CLAP MY HANDS JESUS' NAME YOU KNOW THAT I'M FREE FREE FROM SIN I BEEN BORN AGAIN SAY IT ONE MORE TIME LONG AGO I DIDN'T KNOW NOTHING BOUT MY JESUS AND HIS LOVE JESUS JESUS I ASKED MY MOTHER, HOW CAN I KNOW THIS MAN DON'T YOU KNOW, DON'T YOU SEE, YOU GOT TO BE BORN AGAIN GOT TO BE BORN AGAIN WELL, YOU MUST HAVE, YOU MUST HAVE YOU MUST HAVE, YOU MUST HAVE YOU MUST HAVE, YOU MUST HAVE YOU MUST HAVE, YOU MUST HAVE YOU MUST HAVE, YOU MUST HAVE EVERYBODY MUST HAVE YOU GOT TO HAVE THE HOLY GHOST THE HOLY GHOST THE HOLY GHOST THE HOLY GHOST DID YOU KNOW YOU GOT IT YOU KNOW YOU GOT IT THE HOLY GHOST LET SOMEBODY KNOW IT YOU GOT THE HOLY GHOST YOU GOT THE HOLY GHOST HOLY GHOST HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY HOLY GHOST KNOW YOU GOT IT I KNOW IT HOLY, HOLY, HOLY I GO I GOT THE HOLY I KNOW I GOT THE HOLY FIRE, FIRE, FIRE, FIRE FIRE, FIRE, FIRE, FIRE BURNING, BURNING IN MY HEART LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HOLY, HOLY LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HOLY, HOLY LET'S TALK, COME ON, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HOLY FIRE, FIRE, BURNING, YEAH BURNING, FIRE, FIRE LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY HOLY, HOLY EVERYBODY GOT THE HOLY GHOST ANYBODY GOT THE HOLY GHOST YES, YOU KNOW YOU GOT IT. IF YOU KNOW YOU GOT IT PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER PUT THOSE HANDS TOGETHER PUT THOSE HANDS TOGETHER LET SOMEBODY HEAR IT LET SOMEBODY HERE KNOW LET SOMEBODY HERE KNOW THAT YOU GOT THE HOLY GHOST YOU GOT THE HOLY GHOST YOU GOT THE HOLY GHOST YOU GOT THE HOLY GHOST ANYBODY NEED A BLESSING ANYBODY NEED A BLESSING ANYBODY NEED A BLESSING IF YOU KNOW YOU NEED A BLESSING IF YOU KNOW YOU NEED A BLESSING IF YOU KNOW YOU NEED A BLESSING WHO YOU BLESSING SNOW WHO YOU BLESSING NOW WHO YOU, WHO YOU, WHO YOU, WHO YOU WHO YOU BLESSING NOW