The YWCA of Greenwich celebrated and remembered the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Thursday evening, the day before what would be his 87th birthday.
“He wanted an end to racism. He said it’s no good for society, it’s no good for humanity, and it’s just no good,” said Dr. Mark Christian.
Dr. Mark Christian is a Professor and Chair of African American Studies at Lehman College of City University of New York. He gave the keynote address.
“I’ve done a lot of Dr. Martin Luther King talks. He’s one of my historical heroes,” said Christian.
Christian says King worked to eliminate racism during the Civil Rights Movement just as the YWCA does today.
“We have strived for racial justice since our founding in the U.S. in Boston and New York City,” said Adrianne Singer.
YWCA President and CEO Adrianne Singer says that many strides have been made since King’s death, but there is still work to be done.
“You can still get killed for getting a pack of skittles during a baseball game, or murdered in your church while you are praying,” said Singer.
First Selectman Peter Tesei praised King’s ability to protest peacefully even with violence all around him.
“It is concerning that today, people are not exercising that right, using violent means to make their points,” said Tesei.
“At a time of increasing senseless and horrific violence, the lesson of non-violence has extraordinary power,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal.
YWCA officials presented Greenwich High School students Kyla Johnson and Corey Myrtil with Racial Justice Scholarships.
