Today, we celebrate the life, message and accomplishments of a truly extraordinary man. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. showed our nation a vision of a bettertomorrow. He urged us all to rise above fear and hostility, and instead, treat each other with respect, compassion and civility. He cautioned us that ‘...change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.’ In other words, we must always strive towards a better community and we must constantly move forward in addressing the challenges Dr. King presented decades ago.

Never before has his message been more important. Dr. King’s belief in peaceful social change to create a better life for the poor, for working families and for the disenfranchised, continues to inspire millions around the world. Dr. King also urged us to consider what we are doing for others. Today, volunteers are lending a hand or holding voter registration drives to honor Dr. King. 

We cannot let this moment pass or his vision go unrealized.

This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, it is my deepest hope that all New Yorkers come together and recommit ourselves to building a stronger state and nation and the ‘beloved community’ that Dr. King urged and guided us to be.