Dear Editor:
I would like to invite the entire Hoboken community to join me as the city proclaims Friday, January 18, 2002 as Hoboken Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This will be a very special event for our city’s youngest generation as the city of Hoboken joins with the Hoboken Charter school and the Hoboken Rotary Club to demonstrate that people of all backgrounds may come together in a spirit of mutual respect, especially at this trying time in our nation’s history.
The day will begin at City Hall, as the city once again will continue the tradition of exhibiting a display honoring the legacy of Dr. King. This display will be shown in the City Hall lobby on the ground floor, and it will grow over the following weeks to commemorate Black History Month, which begins in February.
The Hoboken Charter School and the Hoboken Rotary Club will then co-sponsor the March on Washington Street. The procession begins at 12:45 p.m. at Church Square Park and culminates with a gathering on the steps of Hoboken City Hall at 1 p.m. The theme of the march is “Everybody Can be Great because Everybody Can Serve.” Representatives from Hoboken schools and clergy will join the march to share Dr. King’s call to service, and Pastor Shirley Cummins will share a few words with us about Dr. King’s hopes and dreams for the world. We are especially pleased that the Mustard Seed School will be leading the group in a sing-along.
The celebration continues on Monday, January 21, 2002, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, with a moving exhibit titled, “The Sights and Sounds of the Civil Rights Movement.” The event will be at All Saints Parish, 701 Washington St. from 4 to 7 p.m. The exhibit will feature videos, film clips, poetry, dramatic readings, and performances of gospel and freedom songs. Each visitor, young and old, will also be invited to “Paint a Tile for Peace.” Visitors will also be encouraged to get involved by learning more about a variety of community based organizations that depend on volunteer support. A feature-length Disney movie, “The Story of Ruby Bridges” will be shown as part of the festivities.
More information about any of these events, or a list of organizations that depend on volunteer support, can be obtained by calling the Hoboken Charter School at (201) 963-3280.
I hope that everyone will make time to share in these very important events for our community.
Mayor David Roberts