>> BECAUSE I HAVE A DREAM. THAT MY FOUR LITTLE CHILDREN WILL ONE DAY LIVE IN A NATION WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE JUDGED BITE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER. I HAVE A DREAM TODAY.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> HELLO. I'M JONATHAN OVERBY. WELCOME TO THE STATE OF WISCONSIN'S 39TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE AND CEREMONY HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. COMING UP, YOU'LL SEE HIGHLIGHTS FROM TODAY'S EVENT HELD HERE IN THE STATE CAPITOL ROTUNDA. THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR, "TRUTH IS MARCHING," ASKING US TO CONSIDER WAYS WE CAN SHARE OUR OWN TRUTHS, BUT ALSO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO LISTEN AND TO LEARN THE TRUTHS OF OTHERS AS WELL. TODAY'S GUEST SPEAKER IS RITA COBURN, AN AWARD-WINNING WRITER, DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER WITH NEARLY FOUR DECADES IN THE RADIO, TELEVISION AND FILM INDUSTRY. SHE CODIRECTED AND PRODUCED "AND STILL I RISE" WHICH PREMIERED IN 2016 AND WENT ON TO WIN A PEABODY AWARD THE FOLLOWING YEAR. OUR COVERAGE OF TODAY'S EVENT INCLUDES MUSIC, THE PRESENTATION OF TWO WISCONSIN MLK HERITAGE AWARDS AND, IN THE SPIRIT OF GOOD COMMUNITY, LOTS OF CELEBRATION. I HOPE YOU ENJOY THESE HIGH LIGHTS OF TODAY'S TRIBUTE HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. TO VIEW COVERAGE OF THE ENTIRE EVENT, VISIT wpt.org.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM WISCONSIN GOVERNOR TONY EVERS.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> AND WELCOME TO THE 39TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE AND CEREMONY HONORING THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING. THIS IS THE OLDEST OFFICIAL STATE CEREMONY IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY. SO THANK YOU, WISCONSIN!

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> AS GOVERNOR, I'M PLEASED TO JOIN WITH YOU IN REMEMBERING AND CELEBRATING THE INCREDIBLE LIFE OF DR. KING. AND NOW IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER OF TODAY'S CEREMONY, WISCONSIN'S OWN DR. JONATHAN OVERBY.

APPLAUSE

>> HELLO, WISCONSIN! HERE WE ARE TODAY. IT IS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU TODAY. THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME AND GOVERNOR EVERS AND KATHY EVERS, WHO IS HERE AS WELL TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD TO SEE YOU.

APPLAUSE

>> NOW, WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE DR. KING'S DAY TODAY, BUT IT'S GOT TO HAVE A LITTLE SPARK TO IT. DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THIS IS A DAY OF CELEBRATION. COME ON, EVERYBODY. PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER. LET'S HAVE A LITTLE PARTY UP IN HERE.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

NOTE I FEEL A LITTLE CHURCH COMING ON >> ALL RIGHT. WE ALSO HAVE OTHER DISTINGUISHED GUESTS HERE TODAY, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN, MANDELA BARNES. PLEASE RECOGNIZE HIM.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> AND THE NEWLY-APPOINTED WISCONSIN SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, CAROLYN STANFORD TAYLOR IS HERE TODAY.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY. THIS DAY, MONDAY, JANUARY 21 OF 2019, WE THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN GATHER NOT ONLY TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. IN WORDS AND MUSIC, BUT ALSO TO CONTEMPLATE AND CELEBRATE THE PURSUIT OF EQUALITY FOR ALL. FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS, THE ANNUAL STATE OF WISCONSIN TRIBUTE AND CEREMONY HONORING DR. KING HAS DRAWN TOGETHER THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE STATE AND THE MIDWEST, WITH A DESIRE TO CELEBRATE DR. KING AND TO CELEBRATE EACH OTHER, OUR UNIQUE DIFFERENCES AS WISCONSINITES AND TO ALSO CELEBRATE OUR COMMONALITIES. LET US THIS DAY FIND SOLACE AND STRENGTH IN THE POWER OF SONG. SO HERE IS MUSIC DIRECTOR BECCA MAY GRANT AT THE PIANO AND THE MLK WOMEN'S MASS CHOIR UNDER THE DIRECTION OF TAMERA STANLEY. PLEASE GIVE THEM A WARM WELCOME.

APPLAUSE

GONNA LAY DOWN MY BURDEN DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE GONNA LAY DOWN MY BURDEN DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE STUDY WAR NO MORE GONNA LAY DOWN MY BURDEN DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE GONNA LAY DOWN MY BURDEN DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE STUDY WAR NO MORE I AIN'T GONNA STUDY WAR NO MORE STUDY WAR NO MORE STUDY WAR NO MORE STUDY WAR NO MORE STUDY WAR NO MORE STUDY WAR NO MORE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE SING, SING, SING, SING DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE SING, SING, SING, SING DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE STUDY WAR NO MORE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE STUDY WAR NO MORE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE SHOUT, SHOUT, SHOUT, SHOUT DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE SING, SING, SING, SING DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE SING, SING, SING, SING DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE STUDY WAR NO MORE STUDY WAR NO MORE STUDY WAR NO MORE

CLAPPING

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

PRAISE HIM BY THE RIVERSIDE PRAISE HIM BY THE RIVERSIDE PRAISE HIM BY THE RIVERSIDE PRAISE HIM BY THE RIVERSIDE PRAISE HIM BY THE RIVERSIDE PRAISE HIM BY THE RIVERSIDE PRAISE HIM BY THE RIVERSIDE PRAISE HIM BY THE RIVERSIDE STUDY WAR NO MORE STUDY WAR NO MORE STUDY WAR NO MORE

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> OH, I KNOW YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT. COME ON. GIVE THE MLK WOMEN'S MASS CHOIR A BIG HAND.

APPLAUSE

I LIKE THAT O, COME ON Y'ALL ALL RIGHT O, YEA YEA WELL FEELS KIND OF GOOD OOH DON'T LET ME GET STARTED I'M FROM MILWAUKEE AND IT DON'T TAKE MUCH YEA ALL RIGHT WELL UH-HUH >> I HEAR YOU PASTORS BACK THERE. GIVE THEM SOMETHING BACK THERE. I HEARD HIM. I HEARD HIM.

APPLAUSE

>> THAT'S THE WAY YOU GET TO SHOUT OUT, PASTOR. JUST LET ME HEAR YOUR VOICE. ALL RIGHT. YOU READY FOR SOME MORE MUSIC? DO WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE HERE FROM SHY TOWN TODAY? I WONDER IF WE'VE GOT A FEW. WELL, WE'VE GOT THE VICTORY TRAVELS HERE, GOSPEL QUARTET, ARGUED BY DEACON BURTON IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. THEY PERFORMED AS ARTISTS ON STAGE, RECORDING ARTISTS. THEY'VE SHARED THEIR MUSIC WITH FOLKS AT VARIOUS VENUES, INCLUDING THE CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL, THE CHICAGO GOSPEL FESTIVAL, THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, CANADA AND FRANCE. AND WE ALL LOOK GOOD OVER THERE. I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE COMING OUT THERE WITH SUNDAY'S BEST. BUT YOU READY? YOU GOT SOMETHING FOR US? WELCOME BACK. THEY WERE HERE LAST YEAR AND PEOPLE SAID YOU HAVE TO BRING THEM BACK. HERE THEY ARE, THE VICTORY TRAVELERS GOSPEL QUARTET.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

FORGIVE ME OH LORD - IT'S ME AGAIN TRY ME ONE MORE TIME FORGIVE ME, LORD FORGIVE ME, LORD TRY ME ONE MORE TIME I KNOW I BEEN WRONG LOOK FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE I'M LOOKING I'M SEEKING LORD, I'M PRAYING YOU KNOW I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE YES, I AM LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE HAVE I GOT ONE WITNESS LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE YOU KNOW I'M LOOKING AND I'M SEEKING LORD, I'M PRAYING YOU KNOW I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE YOU KNOW THAT I'M LOOKING HERE AND THERE I KEEP ON SEARCHING EVERYWHERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE YEA YEA YEA YEA YEA YEA LOOKING HERE AND THERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE LOOKING HERE AND THERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE SEARCHING EVERYWHERE YOU KNOW I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE YOU KNOW I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE OOH

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> PATTI LOWE IS A PROFESSOR IN THE MEDILL SCHOOL OF JURNISM JOURNALISM AT NORTHWESTERN. SHE IS A DOCUMENTARY PRODUCER AND FORMER BROADCAST JOURNALIST IN PUBLIC AND COMMERCIAL TELEVISION, CLIEWD INCLUDING "WAY OF THE WARRIOR" WHICH AIRED IN 2007 AND 2011 ON PNS. PROFESSOR LOWE IS A MEMBER OF THE BAD RIVER BAND OF LAKE SUPERIOR OJIBWA. THE AUTHOR OF FOUR BOOKS. ONE IS "NATIVE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN. " USED BY 18,000 WISCONSIN SCHOOL CHILDREN AS A SOCIAL STUDIES TEXTBOOK. HER OUTREACH WORK FOCUSES ON NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH AND DIGITAL STORYTELLING. FORE HERFOR HER STEADFAST SERVICE TO OTHERS, ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT PATTI LOWE IS THE RECIPIENT OF WISCONSIN'S 2019 MLK HERITAGE AWARD.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

SPEAKING OJIBWA

>> THANK YOU. GOVERNOR EVERS, STATE OFFICIALS, DR. OVERBY, FRIENDS, MY FAMILY, INCLUDING MY MOTHER, ALICE LOWE, WHO IS JOINING ME TODAY. MY MOTHER IS THE INSPIRATION, THE WOMAN WHO TAUGHT ME CULTURAL HUMILITY AND WHO HAS BLESSED HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR 95 YEARS.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PARKS FAMILY. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THIS DAY MUST BE LIKE FOR YOU. I AM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS AND HUMBLED BY THE LEGACY SANDRA LEFT. LIKE DR. KING, SANDRA'S LIFE WAS ENDED BY GUN VIOLENCE BEFORE SHE COULD FULFILL HER DREAMS. DR. KING'S LEGACY WAS ONE OF PEACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT IF DR. KING WERE ALIVE TODAY, HE WOULD BE WARNING US AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE, TOO.

APPLAUSE

>> HE WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ASSAULTS ON OUR EARTH, ON OUR AIR, OUR WATER. THESE RESOURCES ARE PRECIOUS TO MY PEOPLE. I'VE BEEN GIFTED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THEIR STORIES, THE STORIES OF THESE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS WHO ENVISION A BETTER LIFE, THESE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS AND OUR NON-INDIAN ALLIES, WHO TRY TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR CHILDREN, OUR GRANDCHILDREN AND BEYOND TO THE SEVENTH GENERATION. THEY PERSIST NOT JUST FOR NATIVE PEOPLE, BUT FOR ALL PEOPLE. I ACCEPT THIS AWARD IN THEIR HONOR. THANK YOU.

SPEAKING OJIBWA

APPLAUSE

>> HER NAME IS SANDRA PARKS. IN 2016, SANDRA HAD WRITTEN AN ESSAY ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD. THE MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THEY HAD HELD AN ESSAY CONTEST ABOUT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SANDRA, THEN A 6TH GRADER, A STUDENT AT KEEFE AVENUE MIDDLE SCHOOL IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, WON 3rd PLACE. SHE CHOSE TO WRITE ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE, SHE SAID, BECAUSE THE WORLD HAD FAILED TO LIVE UP TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER'S DREAM. AND SHE TITLED HER ESSAY "OUR TRUTH." JUST DAYS LEADING UP TO THE 2018 THANKSGIVING DAY HOLIDAY, AROUND 8:00 P.M., TRAGEDY CAME. SANDRA WAS AT HOME IN A BEDROOM WHEN SHE WAS HIT BY A RANDOMLY-FIRED GUNSHOT FROM THE STREET. SANDRA DID NOT SURVIVE. SHE WASESSHE WAS JUST 13 AND FAR TOO YOUNG TO KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT DEATH LIVING IN MILWAUKEE. HER ZIP CODE, 53206. BUT TODAY, WE HAVE A GOOD STORY, BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN SANDRA PARKS.

APPLAUSE

>> ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, I AM PLEASED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO HER MEMORY BY ANNOUNCING THAT SANDRA PARKS IS POSTHUMOUSLY HONORED AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE WISCONSIN 2019 MLK HERITAGE AWARD. HERE TO ACCEPT THE AWARD -- PLEASE, GO AHEAD.

APPLAUSE

>> HERE TO ACCEPT THE AWARD IS HER MOTHER, BERNICE PARKS.

APPLAUSE

>> I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE. THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME AND ACCEPT THIS AWARD FOR MY BABY. IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY, VERY HARD. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR ALL THE PRAYERS, THE LOVE, THE GIFTS, THE CARDS. MY SON. I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING EVERYBODY HAS DONE FOR US, THE MAYOR, THE ALDERMEN. YOU GUYS HAVE REALLY BEEN A BLESSING TO MY FAMILY. I'VE STRUGGLED SO LONG AND NOW JUST GOT ONE MORE STEP TO MAKE AND I'LL BE GOOD. I PROMISE I'M GONNA BE OKAY. I GOT FAMILY TO HELP ME THROUGH THIS. I GOT MILWAUKEE. I GOT TO ACCEPT A LOT OF THINGS AND SORT A LOT OF THINGS OUT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I GOT TO MAKE HER LEGACY LAST, KEEP IT GOING. SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A BOOK OF ALL HER POEMS THAT SHE WROTE AT KEEFE AVENUE, AND I'M GOING TO GET IT PUBLISHED AND YOU ALL ARE WELCOME TO BUY IT, GET IT AS A GIFT, HOWEVER YOU WANT IT. BUT JUST PLEASE, PLEASE, I'M BEGGING YOU, DON'T FORGET MY BABY. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS THAT PASSED AWAY.

APPLAUSE

>> A LOT OF KIDS THAT PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR. AND I KNOW WHAT THEIR PARENTS ARE GOING THROUGH. I NEVER THOUGHT A PARENT WOULD KNOW WHAT THEY GOING THROUGH WHEN THEY LOSING A KID. EVERY DAY I STILL LOOK AT HER PICTURE AND SAY HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED? AND I STILL WANT ANSWERS, MILWAUKEE. I STILL WANT ANSWERS. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, SANDRA'S A BLESSING. SHE WAS A BLESSING TO ME WHEN I FIRST GOT HER, WHEN GOD GAVE HER TO ME. SHE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A BLESSING UPON ALL OF US. AIN'T YOU ALL THOUGHT, YOU ALL WRITE IN. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE BOUGHT SOME POEMS. I APPRECIATE THAT. I HAVEN'T READ ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY SENT ME YET, BUT I PROMISE YOU ONCE I GET TIME TO JUST SIT DOWN AND GET INTO MY NEW PLACE, WHICH I'M NOT IN YET, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO READ THOSE POEMS AND EVERYTHING EVERYBODY GAVE ME. SO THANKS, EVERYBODY. APPRECIATE IT.

APPLAUSE

>> AND NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE OUR GUEST SPEAKER, RITA COBURN, A PEABODY AND EMMY AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR, WRITER AND PRODUCER, WITH NEARLY FOUR DECADES IN RADIO, TELEVISION AND FILM.

APPLAUSE

>> ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. THIS WHOLE AFFAIR, THIS WHOLE CELEBRATION. TO THE WOMEN WHO HAVE JUST LIFTED THEIR VOICES, ALL THE PERFORMERS, GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, MAYOR MATSON, PAUL SOGLIN, JONATHAN AND AMY OVERBY, LISTENERS, VIEWERS AND ALL OF YOU, YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE BIRTH, THE LIFE AND THE DEATH OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEANS THAT WE ARE ALL FROM THE SAME TRIBE. WE ARE THE EVIDENCE THAT TRUTH IS MARCHING. IT IS A WEST AFRICAN CONCEPT THAT WE LIVE LIFE ON THREE LEVELS. BUT LIVING LIKE YOU AND I, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIMES WE ARE IN. THE LIVING DEAD, LIKE JESUS, GHANDI, LINCOLN, RELATIVES THAT HAVE BECOME ANCESTORS OR ANYONE DECEASED BUT WHOM WE SPEAK ABOUT. AND LASTLY, THE DEAD AND GONE, THE PEOPLE FOR WHOM NO ONE ON THE EARTH UTTERS THEIR NAME. YOU ARE HERE TODAY TO KEEP THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. IDEALS ALIVE. AS WE FOCUS ON WOMEN THIS YEAR, WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WOMEN HAVE TAKEN MOMENTS IN THIS SOCIETY AND CHANGED THEM AND TRANSFORMED THEM INTO A MOVEMENT FOR CHANGE IN THE WORLD. AS WE TOUCH OUR HUMANITY, WE CAN SEE OUR LIFE IN THE LIVES OF ORDINARY WOMEN. WE CAN SEE OUR POWER. FOR OUR YOUTH AND OUT OF RESPECT TO HIS STORY AND HER STORY, ALLOW ME TO GO BACK SO WE CAN PRESS FORWARD. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WOULD CALL THE MURDER OF 14-YEAR-OLD EMMETT TILL IN 1955 WHO WAS ACCUSED OF WHISTLING AT A WHITE WOMAN ONE OF THE MOST BRUTAL AND INHUMANE CRIMES OF THE CENTURY. KING WOULD USE THE TILL MURDER AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE EVILS OF RACIAL INJUSTICE. BUT IT WAS MAMIE TILL, A GRIEVING MOTHER, WHO WOULD OPEN THE CASKET, CALLING WORLDWIDE ATTENTION TO HER SON'S BLOATED, BEATEN FACE, AN APPALLING VISION OF RACIAL INJUSTICE. A MOTHER'S GRIEF PRIMED A MOVEMENT. I AM FROM CHICAGO AND KNOW THAT IN 2019 AFRICAN-AMERICAN MOTHERS ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY ARE STILL GRIEVING THE WRONGFUL DEATH OF THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS. AS WE BUILD OUR TRIBE, AWAKENED WOMEN AND MEN MUST LIFT THEIR VOICES ACROSS AISLES AND RACIAL LINES FOR THESE INJUSTICES TO STOP. ONLY OUR SINCERE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF HUMANITY CAN CREATE AN EFFECTIVE CALL TO ACTION. LIKE MAMIE TILL'S WALES FOR TILL'S WAILS FOR HER SON, WE AS THE WOMEN, THE MOTHERS, THE SISTERS OF THIS TIME MUST EXCAVATE OUR VOICES, SOUND A POWERFUL BATTLE CRY AND MARCH FOR TRUTH. THREE MONTHS AFTER MAMIE TILL CREATED AN INTERNATIONAL STAGE BY CALLING ATTENTION TO HER SON'S MURDER, MARTIN LUTHER KING WOULD LIE AS A LEADER IN THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT. JUST AS ROSA PARKS WAS NOT THE FIRST WOMAN TO SIT ON A BUS AND REFUSE TO GIVE UP HER SEAT, REFUSALS BY COURAGEOUS MEN AND WOMEN WERE OFTEN FOLLOWED BY ARRESTS. BUT JUST PRIOR TO ROSA PARKS' ARREST, A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS HANDCUFFED AND ARRESTED BECAUSE SHE REFUSED TO GIVE UP HER SEAT. SHE WAS 15 AND PREGNANT AND IT WAS NOT THE JUDGMENT OF AN UNMARRIED PREGNANCY, BUT THE COMPASSION OF THE NEGRO COMMUNITY THAT LULLED THE IN ON HUMANITY OF ARGUE A YOUNG PREGNANT WOMAN. WE CARED ABOUT OUR CHILDREN. THAT ACT STIRRED THE CHAOS OF MANY PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN STUMBLING AROUND IN THE DEEP, DARK WELL OF RACISM. THEY HAD STARTED TO LOOK FOR THE LIGHT AND ROSA PARKS FOUND THE SWITCH. WHEN SHE SAT DOWN, A NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT BEGAN BECAUSE MEDIA COVERAGE WAS WORLDWIDE. DONATIONS TO FIGHT THIS IN INJUSTICE CAME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. OUR CHOICE TO STAND OR SIT WILL CHANGE THE TIMES WE LIVE IN. AS WOMEN, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO BY ALL MEANS GROW TIRED OF WHAT IS WRONG IN OUR SOCIETY. YOUR TIREDNESS CREATES SOME OF THE BEST BOOTS AND HEELS ON THE GROUND. IT IS NOT FATIGUE.

APPLAUSE

>> IT IS AN INDICATION THAT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHANGE THE WORLD. MANY OF THE LESS EDUCATED PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH DIDN'T KNOW WHO GHANDI WAS. A WELL-RESPECTED, WELL TO DO WHITE WOMAN, A LIBRARIAN WHO BEGAN TO INTEGRATE BIBLE STUDIES IN THE NEGRO COMMUNITY AND WOULD START TO PULL EMERGENCY STOPS WHEN BUS DRIVERS WOULD IGNORE COLORED PASSENGERS, JULIETTE MORGAN LIKENED KING'S MOVEMENT TO GHANDI AND SHE WROTE THE NEWSPAPERS TO SAY SO. AS A RESULT OF HER PEN, THE ENTIRE SOUTH AND MANY PEOPLE WORLDWIDE BEGAN TO ACKNOWLEDGE GHANDI'S PHILOSOPHY ON NONVIOLENT SOCIAL CHANGE. MORGAN WROTE "IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE A SOUL SO DEAD, A HEART SO HARD, A VISION SO BLINDED AND PROVINCIAL AS NOT TO BE MOVED WITH ADMIRATION AT THE QUIET DIGNITY, DISCIPLINE AND DEDICATION WITH WITH WHICH THE NEGROES HAVE CONDUCTED THEIR BOYCOTT." UNFORTUNATELY, SHE BECOME A VICTIM OF CROSS BURNING, WAS HARASSED BY THE RACIST COMMUNITY UNTIL HER UNTIMELY DEATH. FREEDOM CONTINUES TO BE A COSTLY FIGHT. AS WE PAUSE TO REMEMBER MAMIE TILL, CLOVEN, ROSA PARKS AND JULIETTE MORGAN, HUMANITY IS JUST AT THAT POSSESSED AGAINST THE INHUMANITY OF RACISM. WE MUST CONTINUE TO MARCH FOR TRUTH, RECOVERING FROM OUR CASUALTY. WE HAVE OPEN CASKETS, USED OUR PENS, STOOD UP AND SAT DOWN. WE HAVE USED MOMENTS TO LAUNCH MOVEMENTS. IN THE SPIRIT OF COLVIN, I HEAR YOU, YOUNG PEOPLE. AS PART OF THIS TRIBE YOU FORM A REGIMENT IN THIS ARMY FOR TRUTH AND YOU ARE CAPABLE OF DISCERNING WHAT IS WRONG AND WHAT IS RIGHT IN THIS COUNTRY. WE HEAR YOUR VOICES WHEN BLACK LIVES MATTER, NOT ONLY MARCHES, BUT BUYS HOUSES TO RENOVATE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. WE HEAR YOU WHEN YOU TAKE TO THE PODIUM AND CHALLENGE THE NATION'S GUN LAWS BECAUSE YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND CLASSMATES HAVE BEEN KILLED. WE SEE YOU WHEN YOU VOTE. KING SAID "HE WHO PASSIVELY ACCEPTS EVIL IS AS MUCH INVOLVED IN IT AS THE ONE WHO PERPETRATES IT." HE WHO ACCEPTS EVIL WITHOUT PROTESTING AGAINST IT IS REALLY COOPERATING WITH IT. AS WOMEN, MEN AND CHILDREN, WE MUST NOT COOPERATE WITH EVIL. WE MUST CHALLENGE EVIL IN ORDER TO DESTROY IT. TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT HIS SUPPORT OF RUSTON BECAUSE OF HIS HOMOSEXUALITY. BUT THAT DID NOT STOP HIM FROM HAVING LED PROTEST MARCHES IN THE UNITED STATES DURING THE '40s OR WORK TO BETTER THE CONDITION OF THE UNTOUCHABLES IN INDIA. EVENTUALLY, KING WROTE "WE ARE THOROUGHLY COMMITTED TO THE METHOD OF NONVIOLENCE IN OUR STRUGGLE AND WE ARE CONVINCED THAT HIS EXPERTNESS AND COMMITMENT IN THIS AREA WILL BE OF IN ES GREAT VALUE." AS WOMEN, WE ARE NOT ALWAYS FULLY RESPECTED IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. YET AS WE MARCH NOW, WE MARCH AT A DIFFERENT TIME, WHEN ONE OF OUR CHALLENGES IS TO FULLY RESPECT ONE ANOTHER. WE WILL HAVE DIFFERENCES. OUR GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE TRIBE, NOT TO ALIENATE OTHERS.

APPLAUSE

>> THANK YOU. I SAY THIS KNOWING THAT IT WILL BE HARD FOR SOME OF US TO ACCEPT OTHERS OF US. WHILE UNDERSTANDING AND FRIEND SHIP OCCURS ONE HEART AT A TIME, LET'S AGREE THAT ALL OUR HUMAN RIGHTS MUST BE FOUGHT FOR AND RESPECTED.

APPLAUSE

>> WHEN THE 116TH CONGRESS CONVENED ON JANUARY 3, 1232 WOMEN FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THEIR SEATS. AND WHILE THAT'S 24% OF THE POPULATION OF WHICH WOMEN MAKE UP 51%, WE ARE MOVING DOWN WHAT ACTIVISTS AND OUR LATE QUEEN OF SOUL CALLED BETTER THAN EVER STREET. FROM MANY STATES, THESE WOMEN ARE THE FIRST TO TAKE THEIR SEATS IN OUR CONGRESS. THEY ARE BLACK, WHITE, LATINO, SOMALIAN, NATIVE AMERICAN. THEY WILL SERVE AND THEY WILL IDENTIFY AS VETERAN, OPEN BISEXUAL, GAY, MARRIED, DIVORCED AND SINGLE. THEY WILL BE SO YOUNG AS IN THE CASE OF CORTEZ AT 29 THAT MAYA ANGELOU WOULD HAVE CALLED HER "NEW AS MORNING." AND THEY WILL SERVE WITH VETERANS SUCH AS MAXINE WATERS, WHOSE 40 YEARS OF CONGRESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IS WELL-RESPECTED.

APPLAUSE

>> THEY ARE CHRISTIAN, JEWISH, CATHOLIC AND MUSLIM, CAREER POLITICIANS, FORMER STEWARDESSES AND WAITRESSES WITH LITTLE MONEY IN THE BANK, ONE HAVING LOST BOTH LEGS DURING WAR IN OUR MILITARY, ANOTHER A SON TO VIOLENCE ON THE STREET. THEY ARE BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS. THEY WILL JOIN MEN IN CONGRESS AND ALL THOSE WHO ARE AWAKE WILL MARCH FOR TRUTH. THEY WILL MAKE MISTAKES. THEY WILL SYSTEM PEL. THEY WILL NOT BE THE FIRST FOR THE LAST TO DO SO. BUT WITH UNDERSTANDING WE MUST SHOULDER THEM UP BECAUSE WE ARE THEIR KEEPERS AND WE MUST MARCH ON ALL FRONTS. WHEN AVA DUVERNAY DIRECTED "SELMA" SHE OPENED THE FILM WITH THE FOUR YOUNG GIRLS KILLED IN THE BOMBING. TAKING ON THE 13TH AMENDMENT AND VOTER SUPPRESSION THROUGH THE LACK OF EX-CONVICTS HAVING VOTER RIGHTS, A FEW YEARS LATER WE ARE WITNESSING THE RIEFT FORMER RIGHT OF FORMER CONVICTS TO VOTE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. OUR VOICES HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH THE ME 2 MOVEMENT THAT BURKE BEGAN. AS BLACK, BROWN AND HEIGHT WOMEN, WE ARE STANDING UP DPENS SECTIONAL PREDATORS IN THE WORKPLACE. MY SKIN IS NOT THE BEAUTY, BUT THE BEAUTY OF A LIGHTER HUE. I AM THREE GENERATIONS REMOVED FROM SLAVERY. MY LIGHT SKIN DID NOT COME FROM CONSENSUAL SEX IN THE WORKPLACE OF SLAVERY. THE VERY SHADE OF THE BROWNNESS OF OUR PEOPLE IS OUR SKIN BLOOD EVIDENCE THAT WE'RE YOUR COUSINS, WE'RE YOUR KIN, WE'RE YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

APPLAUSE

>> YOU AND I ARE THE SECOND WAVE, THE WOMEN OF ENCOURAGEMENT, CALLING THIS WORLD TO ACTION, GRANDMOTHERS WITH GAVELS AND LAW KEEPERS OF COLOR FROM TEXAS TO NEW YORK. AS WE INCREASE OUR ACHIEVEMENTS, WE WILL CHANGE THE LAWS AND CHANGE OUR EVERYDAY CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS IS HOW WE ARE CHANGING THE WORLD. AS SOJOURNER TRUTH SAID, TRUTH IS POWERFUL AND IT PREVAILS. AS ORDINARY WOMEN, EACH ONE OF US MUST TAKE MOMENTS IN HISTORY AND TURN THEM INTO MOVEMENTS GREAT AND SMALL. PREVAIL. AS MAYA ANGELOU SAID, YOU ALONE ARE ENOUGH. THAT MEANS TOGETHER WE ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH. AS OPRAH IN FRI SAYS, YOU DON'T GET WHAT YOU WANT. YOU GET WHAT YOU BELIEVE. PLEAF CAUSES USPLEAF CAUSESBELIEF CAUSES US TO TAKE ACTION. IN THE LATE '60s I WATCHED MY PARENTS STAND STRAIGHTER WHEN THEY TALKED ABOUT MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. THEY SAID HE WAS A MINISTER FOR BETTER HOUSING AND INTEGRATED SCHOOLS. LATER, AS MY MOTHER SNAPPED BEANS AT THE KITCHEN TABLE WITH THE WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY, I HEARD THEM LAMENT THE FACT THAT OUR DICK AND JANE READERS FROM 1ST GRADE FOLLOWED US TO 2nd GRADE AND NOW WE HAD THEM AGAIN IN 3rd GRADE. THEY HAD BEEN FIGHTING FOR DESEGREGATION FOR TEN YEARS, TIRED OF OUR SEPARATE BUT UNEQUAL EDUCATION NOT IN THE SOUTH, BUT IN THE SOUTH SUBURBS OF CHICAGO. OUR BLUE COLOR TOWN BELIEVED THEY COULD CHANGE OUR CIRCUMSTANCES. THEY WORKED TOGETHER, FINALLY INTEGRATING THE SCHOOLS AFTER MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.'S DEATH IN 1968. OUTFITTED IN OUR BEST SCHOOL CLOTHES RUBBED WITH SCRER LOTION AND OUR HAIR SLICKED WITH PEACH POMADE, WE DREAMED ABOUT WHAT WHITE PEOPLE WOULD LOOK LIKE UP-CLOSE. THEN WE FOLDED OUR JUMP ROPES TO PRESENT THEM AS A GESTURE OF FRIENDSHIP DURING RECESS. OUR PARENTS WAVED US ONTO THE BUS AND WITH EVENT TO THEIR JOBS. BUT OUR PUS PUS OUR BUS ARRIVED AND WE WERE CALLED NAMES. THEY LINED THE SIDEWALK TO THE DOOR AND WE TREMBLED OUR WAY INTO A PLACE WHERE WE WERE SUPPOSED TO LEARN. I TOLD THAT STORY RECENTLY AND HAD A WOMAN WHO CONSIDERED HERSELF TO BE LIBERAL ASK DIDN'T YOUR PARENTS PREPARE YOU? THAT IS THE MODERN DAY DEFINITION OF WHITE PRIVILEGE AND WHAT JAMES BALDWIN CALLED THESE YET TO BE UNITED STATES. IT MEANS A CAR, A COFFEE SHOP, A DORM OR A HOTEL COULD BE OUR UNDOING. THIS ERRANT REALITY IN THE MINDS OF SOME PEOPLE, THE VERY IDEA THAT VICTIMS OF RACISM ARE SOMEHOW RESPONSIBLE FOR IT AND PERPETRATORS ARE JUST SIMPLY LIVING LIFE OUGHT TO MAKE YOU WANT TO PUT YOUR BOOTS ON. OF I HAVE A FLYERI HAVE A FLYER YOU CAN DISSEMINATE. THE STORM IS RISING AGAINST THE PRIVILEGED MINORITY OF THE EARTH FROM WHICH THERE IS NO SHELTER IN ISOLATION OR ARMAMENT AND IT WILL NOT ABATE UNTIL A JUST DISTRIBUTION OF THE FRUITS OF THE EARTH ENABLES MEN AND WOMEN EVERYWHERE TO LIVE IN DIGNITY AND HUMAN DECENCY. IN RACISM THE FIRST ATTACK IN ALWAYS AGAINST DIGNITY AND DECENCY. IT'S NOT UP TO BLACKS ALONE TO FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM, BUT FOR WHITES TO RECOGNIZE AND DENOUNCE PRIVILEGE IN ORDER TO CREATE CHANGE.

APPLAUSE

>> UNTIL BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN STOP MARKING THE LOSS OF THEIR INNOCENCE WITH THE DAY THAT THEY REALIZED THAT THEY ARE BEING MARGINALIZED IN THIS SOCIETY, AND UNTIL WHITE CHILDREN STOP INGESTING THE MISPERCEPTION THAT THIS SOCIETY RENDERS THEM PRIVILEGED AND BETTER THAN, AND UNTIL WE CARE FOR BROWN CHILDREN AT THE BORDER OF MEXICO AS IF THEY WERE IN OUR OWN ARMS, WE MUST CONTINUE TO MARCH OUT OF DARKNESS.

APPLAUSE

>> AS WE ACKNOWLEDGE MARTIN LUTHER KING'S COMMITMENT TO HIS FAITH, AND I AS A WOMAN OF THAT SAME FAITH, KNOW THAT WE START SIMPLY WITH THE FIRST WORDS OF THE BIBLE. IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED. THOSE WORDS MEANING THAT ALL OF US BORN IN THE IMAGE OF GOD ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST CREATORS. WE ARE AS THE MOTHERS OF THE CHURCH SAID, ABLE TO MAKE A WAY OUT OF NO WAY. WE CAN LOOK INTO NOTHING CHAOS AND ALL MANNER OF DARKNESS, CONFUSION AND THE UNDEFINED BEFORE US AND KNOW EVEN IN OUR CHILDHOOD THAT WE CONSTITUTE CHANGE. SO THE YOUNG BOY THAT WOULD LATER WALK BY TREES WHERE THE BODIES OF NEGROES HAD HUNG, WHO HAD WITNESSED POLICE BRUTALITY WITH HIS OWN EYES AS WELL AS SEEING THE KU KLUX KLAN RIDE AT NIGHT, HE KNEW HE WAS SEEING CHAOS. AT ONE POINT HE WROTE, I HAD COME PERILOUSLY CLOSE TO RESENTING ALL WHITE PEOPLE. I WANT TO ISSUE YOUR UNIFORM OF THE MARCH WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS. YOU CAN MARCH WITH PASSION, BUT YOU CANNOT MARCH EFFECTIVELY WITH RESENTMENT. HAD MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. RESENTED WHITES, WE WOULD NOT BE HERE. HAD HE BEING ECONOMICALLY SECURE AND WELL-EDUCATED HAD NOT HAD A HEART FOR THE POVERTY HEALTH CAREPOVERTY STRICKEN,WE MIGHT NOT BE HERE. WHEN CAIN KILLED ABEL HE WAS ASKED BY GOD WHERE IS YOUR BROTHER ABEL? KING MADE A DECISION TO LOVE BECAUSE HE KNEW HATE CAUSES YOUR SOUL TO BE QUESTIONED BY GOD AND THE LIE YOU TELL YOURSELF AND OTHERS BY SAYING I DON'T KNOW CALLS YOU TO HAVE THE ARROGANCE TO QUESTION GOD. ABEL'S FUTILE AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER IS A RESPONSE AND WE KNOW THE ANSWER. WE ARE ALL OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS' KEEPERS. THE FINAL QUESTION THAT GOD ASKED ABEL IS THE QUESTION ALL

OF US MUST ASK OURSELVES

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? SO I ASK YOU, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO BRING ABOUT JUSTICE? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ERADICATE RACISM? DO YOU AS A PERSON, A GOVERNMENT, A CORPORATION INCLUDE AND VALUE BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE IN YOUR THOUGHT AND MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING PROCESS? HAVE YOU HIRED US IN YOUR FIRMS, YOUR STORES, MADE SPACE IN THE SCHOOL AND ADMINISTRATION? HAVE YOU ASKED THE QUESTION IN YOUR COMMUNITY OR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM WHEN YOU WALK INTO IS SEGREGATED SITUATIONS WHY DOES THIS COMPANY, THIS SCHOOL, THIS GUILD, THIS UNION, THIS FOUNDATION NOT LOOK LIKE THE WORLD? ASK QUESTIONS. MAKE CHANGES. HAVE YOU PERSONALLY GONE PAST THE OPTICS OF DIVERSITY TO INCLUSION? JUST AS WE ARE EACH OTHER'S KEEPERS, EACH OF US CAN AND MUST DO SOMETHING, SINCE SILENCE HAS A VOICE. WHEN CAIN FAILED TO ANSWER THE QUESTION WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, GOD SAID LISTEN. YOUR BROTHER'S BLOOD CRIES OUT FROM THE GROUND. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT AS TRUTH IS MARCHING, I HEAR BLOOD. 400 YEARS AGO IN 1619, WHEN THE SOULS OF MY ANCESTORS' BLOODY FEET STILL IN SHACKLES TOUCHED AMERICAN SOIL, THEY UNDERSTOOD IT WAS A SHAMEFUL ENTRY. THEY KNEW THAT THERE WAS NO BEAUTY IN SHACKLES, NOTHING PRECIOUS ABOUT THE KIND OF CHAIN THAT HANGS AROUND THE NECK OF A MAN, A WOMAN OR A CHILD. IT IS THE SHACKLE THAT STILL COMES WHEN ONE BROTHER BELIEVES HE IS BETTER THAN ANOTHER, WHEN A SISTER OR BROTHER KILLS THE DREAMS OF THIS COUNTRY AND PUTS LASHES ACROSS THE SOULS OF HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS. THOSE ANCESTORS, THEIRS WERE THE FIRST STEPS IN TRUTH MARCHING AND OUR TASK IS TO MAKE SURE TRUTH ARRIVES. IN 1955, AFTER BEING EDUCATED AT MOREHOUSE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND HIS WIFE MADE A DECISION TO RETURN TO THE HATE-FILLED SOUTH INSTEAD OF SAYING NORTHEAST WITH HOPES FOR A BETTER LIFE. WHEN MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WAS CALLED TO ALABAMA TO THE DEXTER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH, I BELIEVE HE HEARD BLOOD. I SEE YOU. I SEE YOUR TIREDNESS AS WELL AS SOME OF YOU THAT HAVE THE JOY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND LOVE. I SEE YOU SINGLE, DIVORCED, MARRIED. I SEE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED. SOME OF US ENTERING THE THICK OF OR FRESH OUT OF A STORM. BUT KNOW THAT ALL YOUR GOOD AND ALL YOUR BAD ONLY QUALIFY YOU TO MARCH. AS YOU MARCH, YOU WILL FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOURSELF AND WE WILL FIND OUT MORE ABOUT EACH OTHER AS HUMAN BEINGS. AS I STAND HERE, I THANK MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., WHO COULD HAVE BEEN 90 YEARS OLD AND ENJOYING HIS GRANDCHILDREN, BUT INSTEAD HE SACRIFICED HIS LIFE. I THANK MY DECEASED FATHER, CHARLIE COBURN, AND MY 96-YEAR-OLD MOTHER, WILLIE COBURN, FOR RAISING ME AND ALL THEY WENT THROUGH TO RAISE A BLACK CHILD IN WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A WHITE AMERICA. I AM REMINDED THAT MY MOTHER'S FATHER WAS BORN INTO SLAVERY AND HE WAS TAUGHT TO READ BY TWO WHITE WOMEN THAT DECIDED TO BREAK RANK WITH THE NORM OF THEIR DAY. WHEN HE BECAME FREE AT EIGHT YEARS OLD, HE CONTINUED TO READ AND TO STUDY. HE WAS KNOWN AS AN ORATOR AND EVENTUALLY HE WOULD SPEAK IN THE BLACK CHURCH ON THE FIRST AND THIRD SUNDAY AND TEACH SUNDAY SCHOOL AT THE WHITE CHURCH TO CHILDREN ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH SUNDAY. I THANK THOSE TWO WOMEN I WILL NEVER KNOW. IT IS IN THEIR SPIRIT THAT I STAND HERE. AS MAYA ANGELOU WOULD SAY, I COME AS UNAND I STAND AS 10,000. MAY THE ANCESTORS BE PLEASED WITH OUR TIME TOGETHER. AS TRUTH MARCHES, I AM PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF YOUR TRIBE. I SEE YOU. I JOIN YOU. I HEAR BLOOD. EVEN LOUDER, I HEAR YOUR VOICE. LOUDER STILL, I HEAR YOUR POWER. LOUDEST OF ALL, I HEAR OUR FUTURE. AND OUR FUTURE IS THE TRUTH. THANK YOU.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

OF US MUST ASK OURSELVES

>> ALL RIGHT NOW. RITA COBURN, THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU.

APPLAUSE

OF US MUST ASK OURSELVES

>> AND NOW PRESENTING AN ADAPTED EXCERPT FROM DR. KING'S 1963 SPEECH "I HAVE A DREAM" HERE ARE 7TH GRADE STUDENTS JADA MATSON, CHELSIE USCANGA AND TADARIA ROSS, 6TH GRADE STUDENTS, ALL FROM JAMES C. WRIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOL IN MADISON, WISCONSIN.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

OF US MUST ASK OURSELVES

>> PLEZ WELCOME THE JAMES C. WRIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOLARS DREAM TEAM.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

OF US MUST ASK OURSELVES

>> 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 ONE DAY EVEN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, A STATE SWELTERING WITH THE HEAT OF INJUSTICE, SWELTERING WITH THE HEAT OF OPPRESSION, WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO AN OASIS OF FREEDOM AND JUSTICE. >> 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 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 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 HEIGHTENING ALLEGHENIES OF PENNSYLVANIA! LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE SNOWCAPPED 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 FROM EVERY VILLAGE AND HAMLET, FROM EVERY STATE AND EVERY CITY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK OF THAT DAY WHEN ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN, BLACK MEN AND WHITE MEN, JEWS AND GENTILES, PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS, WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN HANDS AND SING FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST, THANK GOD ALL MIGHTY WE ARE FREE AT LAST!

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

SELF-EVIDENT

>> THE JAMES C. WRIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOL DREAM TEAM. YES. YES. DID YOU CALL ME? I'M SORRY. >> WE'D LIKE TO MEET THE GOVERNOR!

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

SELF-EVIDENT

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

APPLAUSE

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

SELF-EVIDENT

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> WELL, WE CAN SAY WE KNEW THEM WHEN. GIVE THEM ANOTHER HAND, JAMES C. WRIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOLARS DREAM TEAM.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

SELF-EVIDENT

>> DEAR FRIENDS, THAT CONCLUDES WISCONSIN'S 39TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE CEREMONY HONORING MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF DPOFER TONY EVERS, I'M JONATHAN OVERBY. MAY YOUR WEEK BE FILLED WITH PEACE AND HARMONY. TAKE CARE.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

SELF-EVIDENT

HOLY GHOST HOLY GHOST BOUT MY JESUS AND HIS LOVE JESUS JESUS 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 GOT TO BE BORN AGAIN