Page 25 - MLK 2022 Booklet

January 17, 2022

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan
January 17, 2022 P.O. Box 24112
Lansing, Michigan 48909

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan Dear Friends,
PO Box 24112
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Lansing, MI 48909 It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 37 Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Day of
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Celebration. In honor of the 65 anniversary of the Little Rock Nine, this year’s theme is “In the
long run, justice finally must spring from a new moral climate”. These words were written by
Dear Mid-Michigan Community Members, Dr. King in his request for federal assistance with integrating a high school in Little Rock,
Arkansas.
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the 37th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
of Celebration. As my home community, this event holds a special place in my heart. After the landmark Supreme Court ruling Brown v. Board of Education declared
segregation in public schools unconstitutional, nine students bravely enrolled in the all-white
I am pleased to join you as you commemorate the life and work of Dr. King. Your theme, "In the high school in 1957, paving the road for other Black students in America and pioneering the civil
long run, justice finally must spring from a new moral climate." is fitting for these historic times. rights movement forward. For this year’s program, I am honored to help welcome several of
I know this event involved incredible hard work and planning and I applaud the efforts of those these stewards of justice, members of the Little Rock Nine: Ernest Green, Minnijean Brown-
that made it possible. Trickey, Carlotta LaNier, and Dr. Terrance Roberts.

Thank you for your commitment to the greater Lansing community. I hope you have a We have endured unprecedented challenges over the past two years, but we can never
memorable celebration. lose sight of the dream that Dr. King instilled in all of us. We cannot let setbacks and challenges
derail us from making Dr. King’s dream a reality for families across Michigan and our country.

Sincerely, We cannot allow the very bedrock of our democracy, the right to vote, erode before our eyes. We
must safeguard our democracy against all efforts seeking to undermine access to the ballot box.
When Dr. King shouted from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, “Give us the ballot,” he
knew how the power of voting could make meaningful, positive change. I’ll continue fighting to
Debbie Stabenow pass voting rights legislation to protect every American’s right to make their voices heard –
United States Senator including the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

On this special occasion, the 37 Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Day of
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Celebration, I trust we take to heart Dr. King’s words and that we be inspired by the bravery of
the Little Rock Nine. I look forward to working with all who commit to realizing Dr. King’s
dream of a more just nation.

Sincerely,
M

Gary C. Peters
United States Senator

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