Every year, I attend the MLK memorial event and march at the Empire Plaza and today is no different. I must say, however, that every year I also get my times mixed up. That claim is normally responded to with a quizzical look…”but, how could that be?” Well, “it could be” because the event is listed as beginning at 7AM and ending at 3PM on the OGS website. I only remembered that I had read in one spot that the “main event” began at 10AM so I scooted on down about that time.

After the initial prayer, which I always discover is halfway done by the time I make it halfway around the convention center, was followed by an amazing version of Amazing Grace by Allison Crowley-Duncan. I love me some bagpipes and this young lady held her own. Aside, get this, I hear Alice Green attempted to bring folks dressed as inmates onto the main floor of the event…I’m assuming to make some kind of point…I heard this from one who was present so I’m relying on their report…not such a bad source. Long story short, Alice Green’s “inmates” were not in attendance when I arrived.

I was happily surprised to hear my Governor was coming to the stage next and I have never been as impressed as I was by him today. I’m not sure my “Education” lobbyist friends would say the same. (You know who you are!!) He said hello to us, his neighbors, with the boyish charm of Darth Vader, and reminded us that he, like me, is just “a renter” with a four year lease and that we are his landlords. He also announced that he would be seeking a renewal on that lease at the end of four years. I’m pleased.

The Guv seemed to be reading out of the ACO handbook as he reminded people of MLK’s philosophy, Justice doesn’t just happen we must bend toward justice and the struggle is hard. (I’m sure some of my OA types will get all excited with this…yup, he’s talking about you…you are the saviors…keep doing what you’re doing.) My Guv, preceding Carl McCall, SUNY, on the stage told an audience that we have a falure of our public education…it is the great discriminator and our kids can never catch up. AND, the government is part of the problem as education has become about the “Business of Education” and not about education. Yup, you got it Guv. I love this guy.

“Everyone has a lobbyist,” he tells the crowd, “the Superintendents, the teachers, the principals, the bus drivers”… education is a bureaucracy. He reminds the MLK event attendees that, because the teachers (and the unions banding together to support them) are refusing to incorporate teacher evaluations, the State is losing $700 million in Race to the Top funding. He vowed to fix that…at this point, the kiddos on the tier below me are on their feet cheering, fists in the air. Cuomo sets the stage for McCall but doesn’t steal his thunder…”this is also about higher ed.” McCall later tells the audience that SUNY spends $17 million a year in remedial teaching…let’s say, the teaching that should have been done in high school…that is going to stop...and that will leave a gap that will “force,” I hope, the high schools to perform to a level that will arm our children with the tools to excel in today’s world.

The Guv closes with a unifying quote from MLK, “We may have all come in different ships but we’re in the same boat now.” While I don’t often stand for ovations…I stood today.

Now, we all know this event is extremely tightly orchestrated and not everyone who wants to participate “onstage” is given a slot. Ya know, that’s how event work. So, I understand that one particular group wanted to perform onstage (no, it wasn’t Alice Green) and they were not granted a spot on the program. Ya know, like a whole bunch of us regular folk awaiting our turn in line. So, this particular fella took matters into his own hands and “hijacked” the memorial service. (It takes some balls use kids to hijack a memorial services, huh? At least Green used adults in her attempt.) I should tell you that the hijacking of the MLK event occurred at the hands of the Albany Community Charter School, I should add, the kiddos and parents didn’t seem to know they were used to hijack the memorial service someone made the arrangements.

Here’s how the hijacking went down. The Convention Center service ended and, as is the norm, the folks went out the door, picked up a piece of MLK cake (brought to you by PriceChopper) and headed to the Madison Avenue Concourse entrance. Along the way, the ACCS folks had set up a “drill” show and the folks heading to the “official march” stopped to watch. The “official march” folks waited for the audience which didn’t come because they were waylaid by the ACCS show which they, I assume, assumed was part of the “official show.” Hey, I stopped also as I thought it was part of the event …after all, it was announced inside the Convention Center that some “kiddos” would be leading the way to the “march” how did we know which kiddos to follow.

So, I joined the officials and the only representative from Albany Human Rights Commission proud enough to carry the official banner in the Memorial March, Ivonne Hanks. Unfortunately, she had to have her husband carry the other side of the banner. I think I’m going to have to start attending those meetings. How can the Human Rights Commission NOT participate in the MLK Memorial March? I got it, maybe they got confused by the Albany Community Charter School’s performance and followed them instead of the official marchers who were freezing at their official starting line.

The official march kicked off and about a half a block after the kickoff, the hijacking group came sprinting from the Concourse and began yelling, “what do we want?” ya know, kinda like the OAers? The official march sang “We Shall Overcome” as the hijackers marched closer and yelled louder. That will teach those MLK organizers to ignore their request to perform onstage….use the kiddos as a weapon and shout over a memorial hymn…ya gotta wonder what was going through the heads of those kids as they marched and shouted over a hymn of respect for the man for whom the day was in memory.

So, hijacking aside, the annual placing of the wreath, though a bit chilly, was a quick and lovely ceremony…and we then hijacked a CDTA bus and sweet talked the driver into dropping us at Hackett for the 14^th Annual MLK LABOR Celebration. (The term of difference is LABOR.) I would like to thank all of my labor friends for a lovely lunch and visit and I promise to try to make it to the January 23^rd protest…I promise. The on the agenda for the Labor Celebration were Reverend Elgian Joseph Taylor, Sr. of the Sweet Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church (invocation and spiritual remembrance), Steven Graham, an 8^th grader at Hackett performed both the National Anthem and the Black National Anthem…wait…what was that MLK used to be fond of saying? “We may have all come in separate ships but we’re all in the same boat now?” Think about that folks.

Dr. Paul T. Murray, shared a celebration of the 50^th anniversary of The Freedom Rides. (I must confess…I don’t have a clue on that one?) Dan Lyles, an RPI student, spoke on OA and “We are the 99%.” And the keynote was delivered by Albany County District Attorney, P. David Soares. After lunch there was a presentation of the “Alan B. Lubin Essay Award” winners, first place went to Ms. Eneah Fite, an eighth grader at North Albany Academy, second place went to Ms. Yamata Bell, a seventh grader at Stephen and Harriet Myers and third place went to Ms. Eileen Bequette, a Hackett seventh grader.

Thanks to all of the organizers for providing the community with several ways to remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., thanks to all those performing “on the stage” and congratulations to those receiving awards for their writings.

I didn’t get one single billable word written and I’m exhausted…I call that a day on…not a day off.

I received the Soares Press release at 11:11PM the night after this event occurred, the text is below:

January 16, 2012

SOARES: WE SHARE THE SAME CHALLENGES AS DR. KING FACED

District Attorney delivers message of progress and continued work

ALBANY, N.Y. (Jan. 16, 2012) --- Albany County District Attorney David Soares joined students, labor leaders, parents, civic leaders, and religious leaders at the 14th Annual Martin Luther King Labor Celebration on Monday morning at Hackett Middle School, delivering the keynote speech that emphasized the progress Albany County and the nation has made in the last 50 years.

"We would be fooled to say that we have arrived. Don’t get me wrong – we have made steps, but despite all the progress done locally and nationally, much needs to be done," said Soares.

The celebration, organized by the Martin Luther King Celebration Committee led by Willie Hughes, also included presentations by the Upstate Campaign to End the New Jim Crow (NLC) and remarks by Siena professor Dr. Paul Murray and RPI student/Occupy Albany supporter Dan Lyles.

"We have a Supreme Court of the United States recognizing a corporation’s right to expression, but local governments trying to limit the voice of everyday people like you and me who want to occupy a space," Soares continued.

The event also recognized the winners of the Alan B. Lubin Essay Award, given to students at the middle school level. The winners were Eneath Fite (North Albany Academy), Yamata Bell (Stephen & Harriet Myers Middle School), and Eileen Bequette (Hackett Middle School).

Soares previously delivered the keynote speech in 2006 during his first term as District Attorney.

January 16, 2012

SOARES: WE SHARE THE SAME CHALLENGES AS DR. KING FACED

District Attorney delivers message of progress and continued work

ALBANY, N.Y. (Jan. 16, 2012) --- Albany County District Attorney David Soares joined students, labor leaders, parents, civic leaders, and religious leaders at the 14th Annual Martin Luther King Labor Celebration on Monday morning at Hackett Middle School, delivering the keynote speech that emphasized the progress Albany County and the nation has made in the last 50 years.

"We would be fooled to say that we have arrived. Don’t get me wrong – we have made steps, but despite all the progress done locally and nationally, much needs to be done," said Soares.

The celebration, organized by the Martin Luther King Celebration Committee led by Willie Hughes, also included presentations by the Upstate Campaign to End the New Jim Crow (NLC) and remarks by Siena professor Dr. Paul Murray and RPI student/Occupy Albany supporter Dan Lyles.

"We have a Supreme Court of the United States recognizing a corporation’s right to expression, but local governments trying to limit the voice of everyday people like you and me who want to occupy a space," Soares continued.

The event also recognized the winners of the Alan B. Lubin Essay Award, given to students at the middle school level. The winners were Eneath Fite (North Albany Academy), Yamata Bell (Stephen & Harriet Myers Middle School), and Eileen Bequette (Hackett Middle School).

Soares previously delivered the keynote speech in 2006 during his first term as District Attorney.

[The specials today at the Courthouse are a Roast Beef sandwich on a Crusty Club Roll (with the regular sides), the Buffalo Chicken Wrap and a Quiche Lorraine (also on the daily menu is the Spinach Bacon). The soups de jour are the delicious cream of turkey vegetable and chicken noodle...see ya at the Courthouse.]