During the first presidential election in 1789, an adult had to be white, male and landowning to be eligible to vote in most states. Today, a voter doesn’t have to be any of these things. It’s been a long road getting from there to here, a road cutting through mountains of bigotry, a path paved with sacrifice, a continuum reaching toward a horizon called justice. Voting is about far more than registering support for a specific candidate in a particular district, it’s about defying those blockading mountains, honoring those who sacrificed, and committing ourselves, as has the Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Committee, to reaching toward that bright horizon, and all the horizons beyond. Walk with us on the march toward making freedom ring and democracy shine.
Vote.
About Our Vision
The observance of the life of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. began in Teaneck, New Jersey as a Candlelight Ceremony upon his assassination on April 4, 1968. In subsequent years the Committee evolved to holding a celebration of Dr. King’s birthday in January. When a national holiday emerged, the observance has been held on the third Monday of January. This annual observance, held in various houses of worship, churches, and temples, is an inclusive, racial, religious, equitable service that attempts not only to remember Dr. King’s life but is an effort to raise awareness of human rights issues. In addition, recognition is given to community organizations that best exemplify the ideals of Dr. King and awards scholarships to high school students who excel academically and make significant contributions to their community through volunteerism. Our purpose is also to raise awareness of human rights issues by supporting organizations that best exemplify the ideals of Dr. King. This Bergen County Committee’s true mission is to address Dr. King’s Question:
“What have you done for others?”
10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024
10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024
Marchers Crossing the Bridge, Led by Trumpeter Keith Maclin and Toni Goode-Sempler, 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Marchers Crossing the Bridge, Led by Trumpeter Keith Maclin and Toni Goode-Sempler, 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Marchers Crossing the Bridge, Led by Trumpeter Keith Maclin and Toni Goode-Sempler, 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
We are gathering together at the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Event Moderator, Anthony Johnson, Reporter, WABC-TV (New York, NY). The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Deacon Laurence (Larry) Bonnemere, Saint Anastasia’s RC Church, Teaneck, New Jersey delivers the invocation. The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Musical Selection by The Nightingales. The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Welcoming Remarks, Mary Amoroso, County Commissioner. The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Welcoming Remarks, Dennis McNerney, Former County Executive. The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Welcoming Remarks, Anita Rivers, PhD. Fairleigh Dickinson University. The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Keynote Speaker, Joe Harris, PhD - 1964 Freedom Summer Participant. The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Poetry Recital by, Jeanette Adams. The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Humanitarian Awards Presented by Shelley Washington, MLK Birthday Committee Humanitarian Award Recipient, Hafiz Imam Saeed Quereshi, Imam of Darul Islah, Teaneck, NJ, and Associate Pastor, Representing Community Baptist Church of Englewood, NJ. The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Celebration Dr. Theodora Lacey. The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Celebration Dr. Theodora Lacey and Arnold Brown, Esq., founders of the MLK Birthday Committee. The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Singer, Toni Goode-Sempler. The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Poetry Recital given by, Jeannette Curtis Rideau. The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Sponsor Appreciation, Wayne Hamer & Barbara Giarmo, MLK Birthday Committee. The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
LIFT EVERY VOICE and WE SHALL OVERCOME, Led by Charles Warren and sung by Toni Goode-Sempler. The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Teaneck Poet Laureate, Scott Pleasants. The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
LIFT EVERY VOICE and WE SHALL OVERCOME, Led by Charles Warren and sung by Toni Goode-Sempler. The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
LIFT EVERY VOICE and WE SHALL OVERCOME, Led by Charles Warren and Toni Goode-Sempler. The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Benediction delivered by Rev. Dr. Edna Dismus. The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Event Moderator, Anthony Johnson, Reporter, WABC-TV (New York, NY), delivering the closing remarks. The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Celebrating the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Post-Reception event. The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Post-Reception Concert, Vivian Sessoms and Her Quartet. The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument | Sunday, August 25, 2024.
