AMHERST KICKS OFF MLK COMMEMORATIONS WITH READING OF PROCLAMATION AT TOWN HALL

Amherst kicked off its Martin Luther King Day Commemorations on Wednesday afternoon, January 15, when a group of Amherst Town Councilors gathered on the steps of Town Hall to read a proclamation they had adopted in honor of Dr. King. 

The reading was shared by Councilors Lynn Griesemer, Mandy Jo Hanneke, Andy Steinberg, Evan Ross, George Ryan,  Cathy Schoen and Shalini Bahl-Milne. The reading was followed by the ringing of the Town Hall bells and by remarks by Human Rights Commission Chair Matthew Charity.  The small crowd that gathered in front of Town Hall for the ceremony then proceeded in a candlelight march to the Jones library where the program continued with remarks by guest speaker Kathleen Anderson,  the reading of Dr. King’s speeches, community dialogue and song, and refreshments. 

The Proclamation, adopted by the Town Council on January 6, 2020 follows.

REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was born on January 15, 1929, devoted his life to justice and equality for people of all races and economic standings through non-violent means, which led to the establishment of many Federal and local laws prohibiting discrimination and fostering human rights; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement helped change public policy from segregation to integration, resulting in the repeal of the Post-Reconstruction Era state laws mandating racial segregation in the South known as the “Jim Crow Laws,” thereby leading to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and other anti- discrimination laws aimed at ending economic, legal, and social segregation in America; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King stated in his speech, “I say to you today, my friends, though, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self- evident, that all men are created equal;’” and 

WHEREAS, Dr. King believed that service was “the soul’s highest purpose,” and was the path to happiness and greatness; and

WHEREAS, Dr. King once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’,” leading communities across the country to answer that question by coming together to honor Dr. King by helping their neighbors and communities through thousands of service projects spread across all 50 states; and

WHEREAS, the residents of the Town of Amherst, through the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Amherst, Inc. have been observing this holiday at a Commemorative Breakfast for over 35 years, in order to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy, and recognize area high school students and adult community members who continue to work towards the dreams, ideals, and service for which he stood.

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Amherst Town Council, proclaim January 15, 2020 as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, invite the residents of Amherst to join us in a bell ringing ceremony and reading of the proclamation on the steps of Town Hall at 4:30 pm on January 15, 2020, and encourage residents of Amherst to attend the 36^th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Breakfast at the Amherst Regional Middle School Cafeteria, at 8:30 am on Saturday, January 18, 2020.

Voted this day 6^th of January 2020