Inside: Annual service celebrates legacy of peace.
Assembly brings Rev. King’s legacy to today’s world
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Eventgoers gathered Sunday at the Presbyterian New England Congregational Church for a pre-Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day assembly, Poor People’s Campaign: ANational Call for Moral Revival.
The free event included a presentation and discussion of the history of the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign by Labor Religion Coalition of New York State lead organizer Joe Paparone, followed by a Community Dinner & Jamm, featuring a soul food meal and a live performance by gospel and blues group the Heavenly Echoes. The gathering was part of an ongoing series of celebratory MLK Saratoga events throughout the holiday weekend.
This organization has held a Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration for more than 20 years, and in the last few years, it has grown to multiple days of programming, said MLK Saratoga co- chair Holly Hammond. The purpose of Sunday’s event in particular, Hammond said, was to call attention to the Poor People’s Campaign, both the original one King launched 50 years ago and present- day efforts gaining momentum in 2018.
“It’s really calling attention to the imbalance of wealth and power and privilege in our country,” she said. “It’s unhealthy for everyone.”
In his presentation, Paparone explained the history of the Poor People’s Campaign, organized by King in 1968, and how it can relate with today’s initiative.
“It’s really important that we spend some time in reflection,” he said.
When he was assassinated, Paparone shared, King was organizing the poor and dispossessed from across the country to form the Poor People’s Campaign — led by the poor themselves — to challenge the “three evils:”of poverty, racism, and militarism.
“That was not a popular campaign,” Paparone said, but nevertheless, people are trying again.
Today, organizers believe the crises King identified 50 years ago are worse, as the founder predicted. A new Poor People’s Campaign is in motion, carrying forward this work of building a movement with, not for, the poor, to end poverty, systemic racism, militarism, and environmental destruction.
“It’s going to be harder than the civil rights movement,” Paparone repeated twice, then had the audience repeat with him once more.
Sunday’s presentation provided information on how they can become involved in the nationwide movement. Locally, this will begin with a Capital Region launch of the Poor People’s Campaign on Jan. 29 in Albany.
Rev. Kate Forer said the church is excited about the new Poor People’s Campaign, “which is picking up right where the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stopped and bringing marginalized people together to work for justice on their own behalf.”
She added that the church plans to be involved in the campaign.
“I’m really excited because I feel like often during MLK weekend, we kind of praise who he was, but I’m excited for an opportunity to continue the work,” Forer said.
Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly, who was at Sunday’s event, said it’s exciting to see the Spa City community pull together and be as diverse and inclusive as it is.
“Saratoga Springs really does include everyone,” she said. “We are remembering what Dr. King has done in the past, and we need to bring back those thoughts and keep moving forward.”
Audience members Karen and John Wantuch of Clifton Park attended Sunday to hear the gospel music and check out the church, they said, but, most importantly, to participate in a worthy cause.
More information on other MLK Saratoga events is available online at http://mlksaratoga.org.