THE OKC MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
HOLIDAY COALITION'S SILENT MARCH
MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2024 AT 9 AM
BEGINNING FROM THE FREEDOM CENTER
Dear Emanuel Family,
On Monday, January 15th, 2024, the nation will renew its remembrance and honoring of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In 1973, Connecticut and Illinois recognized Dr. King’s birthday as a state holiday. Ten years later, President Ronald Raegan signed the national Martin Luther King Jr. Day into law. Emanuel Synagogue Youth will observe the holiday for the 10th year at the Oklahoma City Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Coalition’s silent march. Oklahoma recognized the holiday in 1984. That same year, Navy chaplain Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff (Ret. Gen – Rabbi Resnicoff’s final post was with the Air Force) conducted a ceremony commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Aura Herzog, wife of Israel's then-President Chaim Herzog, was proud to host this special event, because of Israel’s national forest in honor of Dr. King. Rabbi Resnicoff noted that, “from time immemorial, there have been those who thought they could kill the dream by slaying the dreamer, but—as the example of Dr. King's life shows—such people are always wrong.” As the holiday was recognized by more states, John Lewis, Representative from Georgia, Civil Rights activist & hero, and disciple of Dr. King, helped co-author the King Holiday and Service Act in 1994. The federal legislation challenges Americans to transform the King Holiday into a day of volunteer action and service. In 1999, Utah became the last state to ratify the holiday, but it took until 2012 for some states to stop celebrating the Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s birthday on the same date and embrace the call to action. Recently, the daughters of two civil rights giants reflected on the legacy of their fathers’ alliance and friendship. Dr. Bernice A. King, the daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr. and CEO of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, and Prof. Susannah Heschel, daughter of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and chairwoman of the Jewish studies program at Dartmouth College; held a webinar focusing on the 1960s U.S. civil rights movement and the “urgency of revitalizing activism in an America broken by racism and violence.” The FBI is tracking an alarming rise in Hate Crimes, which adds an increase sense of urgency for all Americans “to unite against racism and to create a holy alliance of loving people” (Rabbi Capers Funnye, Jr). Help reignite the flames of social justice on Monday January 17th, at The King Holiday silent march. Oklahoma City will come together for peace, love, and understanding at 9 AM beginning from the Freedom Center and ending at the Oklahoma History Center. “Even without words, our march was worship. I felt my legs were praying” (Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel). Let’s pray together in the spirit of the early civil rights heroes “in order to form a more perfect union.” Join me at the silent march, Jeff Goss ES Youth Director |
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