By Dawn Scotland
The Truth Reporter
Local UAW 14 hosted its 17th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Saturday evening January 24 at UAW Local 14 Hall on 1145 Jackman Rd. The event featured speeches from local leaders on pertinent issues of today and the importance of continuing Dr. King’s legacy.
The Program Mistress of Ceremonies was TaTiana Cash, WTOL 11 news anchor. Following a presentation by The Marine Corps Color Guard of Weapons Company 1/24, the Invocation was given by Vaughn Patterson, Local 14 UAW Chaplain and Introduction by Willie Hall of Local 14 UAW.
Prominent leaders spoke throughout the night to the community including Ohio State Senator Paula Hicks Hudson, “…While we are living in times that are trying all of our souls, we need to remember that Martin Luther King was more than just a dreamer – he was a drum major. He believed that by leading us that it required all of us to take part.
“Today, as we look at what’s happening across our country and in our communities… I urge each and every one of you on this particular day that you make a pledge to move forward in the grocery store, at the hair, nail salon, at the barbershop, wherever you are, and you see injustice, make them hear you,” she stated.
Throughout the night, leaders spoke against the current Trump administration polices, encouraging active participation from citizens through voting and civil disobedience. Brian Van Pelt gave an introduction of speaker Helen Walker, International UAW Civil and Human Rights Department Assistant Director. Following her remarks Jamele Walker performed spoken word.
Tony Totty, president of UAW Local 14 introduced the keynote speaker for the evening Sherrod Brown. The former senator was unable to attend due the weather state of emergency in Ohio and spoke via phone conference.
Totty remarked on the civil rights movement during King’s lifetime. “People in this room were alive at that time. We can remember that. It [was] scary times, but it took the courage of a nation. And once you saw, the kind folks that would turn on their TV at night and watch dogs bite people. That’s when they said, ‘This is too much.’ That was a turning point.”
He analogized that with the current turmoil of today. “I ask everybody here, and it’s not pleasant. Please watch that video today [of the shooting of Alex Pretti]. That should be the turning point, and it’s going to take all of us. I watched kids in Minnesota schools walk out. I watched people not go to work. I watched 50,000 people in subzero weather march yesterday. And if they can do that in Minnesota, we can take our stand here. We need to take stand all across the country,” stated Totty.
“You know what’s at stake this year…and [Marcy and I] just can’t stand on the sidelines, just like all of you,” said Sherrod Brown. “You didn’t have to be there tonight in this cold weather. You don’t have to fight for the labor movement. You don’t have to fight for the civil rights movement. You’re there, Tony’s there, like Marcy is there because you want to get off the sidelines and fight like hell.” He spoke on current issues in the Trump administration.
“You don’t need me to tell you what’s at stake, but you do know what’s at stake, and that’s where I’m fighting like hell and I know you’re fighting like hell for a better country, and that’s a country where we really do recognize human rights, civil rights, voting rights, worker rights. Weave them all together, and we do those right, and we make that fight. It makes us a much better country,” he shared.
The evening concluded with speeches from Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and Baldemar Velasquez, founder and leader of FLOC (Farm Labor Organizing Committee), and a benediction by Pastor John Michael Talbert.
Local 14 UAW President Tony Totty said, “It’s just always good to bring everybody together from our community… we always bring speakers that are going to talk to the moment. Sherrod Brown is running [for office] because he can’t sit back and watch what’s taking place in this country. Marcy Kaptur, once again, fighting to represent us well.
“When you look at their opponents, they’re just rubber stamping terrible legislation and they’re not standing up for the citizens up northwest Ohio and Toledo and our community. When you look at what’s taking place with education and the rest of it we need to hold these legislators accountable. It’s nice to have the fellowship here and we just thank everybody for coming out to hear what’s going on in our community,” Totty added.
Dinner was catered by Bite Catering. To learn more about Local 14 UAW visit uawlocal14.org.