MLK DAY: Those honoring King asked to talk less, do more

[Dr Funky]

http://www.niagara-gazette.com/local...021214538.html

MLK DAY: Those honoring King asked to talk less, do more


(James Neiss/staff photographer Niagara Falls, NY - Felicea Harris, 17, sings ?ift Every Voice and Sing,?during the Martin Luther King Luncheon at the Niagara Community Center on Centre Avenue. ?lanting the seeds of tomorrow?is the theme of the 27th Annual luncheon.)


(James Neiss/staff photographer Niagara Falls, NY - Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster says a few words during the Martin Luther King Luncheon at the Niagara Community Center on Centre Avenue. ?lanting the seeds of tomorrow?is the theme of the 27th Annual luncheon.)

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Community leaders put out a call to action Monday, urging residents in the city’s North End to spend the coming year honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by following the examples set by the fallen civil rights leader.

More than 70 people attending the 27th annual Dr. King luncheon at the Niagara Community Center on Centre Avenue were encouraged to shake off their complacency and begin advocating for change in their neighborhoods and in the city itself.

“The question you should be asking yourselves is how King are you?” said guest speaker Kevin Cottrell, owner of the heritage tour company, Motherland Connextions. “Is this just another day?”

The day America pauses to remember the accomplishments of King should be a day when his followers to take up the work he started, said Cottrell who suggested it may be time for North End residents to form their own community business organization or block club to serve as a greater voice for local change and advocacy.

Cottrell, who is currently working with state and local officials on a plan to develop North Star, a North End tourism corridor dedicated to the Underground Railroad’s history, noted that King and other civil rights advocates before and after him, sacrificed much of their lives, including significant time away from their families, to promote causes of equality, justice and human rights.

Cottrell suggested now is the right time for King’s followers to do some sacrificing of their own.

“In being King-like, what are we going to do as it applies to the City of Niagara Falls?” Cottrell asked. “Let’s begin it here. We’ve been waiting 40 years. King had a vision and I think we still have a dream.”

While the dream continues, Niagara County Legislator Renae Kimble, D-Niagara Falls, said inequalities continue to exist, particularly for African Americans living in the North End, an area that consistently ranks among the poorest in terms of poverty and among the highest when it comes unemployment.

She noted that the city’s hiring practices continue to be woeful as there are currently no minorities represented in the Niagara Falls Fire Department and just four African Americans in the city’s 142-member police department.

She too asked event attendees to honor King’s legacy by taking action so that by this time next year the community will be able to take note of “tangible” changes.

“We should make sure that his tireless efforts do not fall on deaf ears,” she said.

Mayor Paul Dyster told audience members his administration has heard the community’s call for greater equality when it comes to hiring practices and has already taken steps to do something about it. The administration, he said, continues to actively recruit women and minority candidates for positions, especially those available within the city’s police and fire departments. Dyster encouraged those in attendance to help bring about change by spreading the word about the availability of jobs with the city for all those who qualify.

“Reach out to some young man or women in the community that you think would be a candidate for our police or fire departments and encourage them to come out and take that examination,” he said.

[Dr Funky]

She noted that the city’s hiring practices continue to be woeful as there are currently no minorities represented in the Niagara Falls Fire Department and just four African Americans in the city’s 142-member police department.

She too asked event attendees to honor King’s legacy by taking action so that by this time next year the community will be able to take note of “tangible” changes.

“We should make sure that his tireless efforts do not fall on deaf ears,” she said.

Mayor Paul Dyster told audience members his administration has heard the community’s call for greater equality when it comes to hiring practices and has already taken steps to do something about it. The administration, he said, continues to actively recruit women and minority candidates for positions, especially those available within the city’s police and fire departments. Dyster encouraged those in attendance to help bring about change by spreading the word about the availability of jobs with the city for all those who qualify.

“Reach out to some young man or women in the community that you think would be a candidate for our police or fire departments and encourage them to come out and take that examination,” he said.

There's something that I've noticed with all of this.

When did blacks move into the city in large numbers? As far as I've heard it was during the 50's and 60's when Jim Crow was in full force down south.

Now. My question is, why is it, that all of a sudden in January of 2008 are the local politicians FINALLY pushing for more equality in the Niagara Falls job force? Some 50 years later......

[Bringthetruth]

They are well entrenched in the stronghold of the city, for several decades, no it's ok to embrace the northend people

[mesue]

...
MLK DAY: Those honoring King asked to talk less ...

Now there's some advise ...

[mesue]

sign your name, coward