ANSONIA — Nearly 58 years after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his historic speech, the dream for equality, justice and peace continues here in the Valley.
A virtual celebration of King’s life and legacy was held Monday via Zoom, thanks to the Valley chapter of the NAACP. Close to 100 local church leaders, town and school officials, students and others logged on to pay homage to King’s call to love not hate, put service above self and come together as a community to fight injustice.
The annual event normally takes place at the Macedonia Baptist Church, where messages of hope, uplifting songs and speeches resound throughout the church’s walls. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, organizers opted to move the celebration safely online.
“This is a first in a lifetime for me as leader of the NAACP to host our annual MLK celebration via Zoom,” said President Greg Johnson. “This is a much-needed and distinguished celebration to recognize our man of the cloth who brought about civil rights at a difficult time. And here we are, many years later, seeing some of the same fights being fought across the Mason-Dixon Line.”
In a tumultuous climate where political views have divided the country, and less than two weeks after a violent mob of extremists stormed Congress, many who spoke Monday encouraged all to rise above the hate and push forward King’s dream of equality and justice for all.
NAACP Vice-President and Youth Minister Breon Sanders opened the hour-long celebration in prayer.
“Help us to come together as a community, become a brotherhood that transcends race or color, help us so we can love and not hate,” Sanders said. “Send strength and encourage the families who have suffered loss due to the acts of violence and injustice. Pray for the comfort of those who lost loved ones to COVID 19.”
Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti implored all to honor King’s call for service, especially amidst the raging pandemic.
“We are encouraged to better our communities through volunteer work on this day,” Cassetti said. “Many of our residents cannot pay their rent or feed their families. This pandemic has created long-lasting problems. There can be no more meaningful tribute to Dr. King than to do what he intended us to do. Let’s help improve the lives of those in our community. Today, we need action, not words.”
Johnson was inspired by Valley youths dedicated to carrying on King’s message in a video-taped montage of Oxford High School students calling for more diversity in the classroom, and joining hands “to lift the nation from the quicksand of racial injustice to a solid rock of brotherhood.”
Johnson also beamed with pride after reading aloud an essay written by Derby Middle School eighth grade student Brianna Kling, which scored a top 15 spot out of nearly 3,000 submitted during an annual contest held by U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy on the meaning of King’s legacy.
Brianna, in part, wrote: “If you’re in a race with someone and they run 800 meters before you’re able to start running, how could you possibly catch up? That’s what happened to African-Americans when they were finally given legal protection against discrimination. Martin Luther King Jr’s dream came true for the most part. However, the effects of what happened when they didn’t have protection are still affecting African-Americans today, and they’re frantically racing to make up for the 800 meters they lost.”
Johnson believes “the future is certainly bright” listening to young people like Brianna keeping the dream alive.
Going forward, Johnson said none of King’s work can continue without everyone standing together.
2020 was an awful year. But there were several civil rights protest marches in the wake of George Floyd’s killing at the hands of police. All were peaceful. The crowds were diverse.
In two cases — Ansonia and Shelton — police marched with the public.
“2020 was a year that threatened decades of progress, but rather than accept it, we decided to fight,” Johnson said. “You persisted, you used your voice, you used your vote and together we organized, we inspired, we challenged and we won. We are triumphant because of you. You made us stronger, louder, bolder and prouder. You made us the new NAACP still fighting for justice, still fighting for you. But we are only as strong as your voices.”
