{"id":11906,"date":"2024-04-25T17:42:16","date_gmt":"2024-04-25T17:42:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=11906"},"modified":"2024-04-25T17:43:39","modified_gmt":"2024-04-25T17:43:39","slug":"our-time-to-break-silence-at-monroe-street-united-methodist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/25\/our-time-to-break-silence-at-monroe-street-united-methodist\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Time to Break Silence at Monroe Street United Methodist"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Doug 419 Community Youth Chorus with children of the Ann Jerkins-Harris Academy of Excellence lead by Director\u00a0Dianne Stubblefield-Moore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Dawn Scotland<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe Truth Reporter<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Monroe Street United Methodist Church, along with Toledo Public Schools, held Our Time to Break Silence, A Toledo Community Reading of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence<\/em>. <\/em><\/p>\n

The event observed the anniversary of one of Dr. King’s most inspirational speeches, delivered at Riverside Church in New York City on April 4, 1967. The dynamic speech was given exactly one year before his assassination.<\/p>\n

The welcome was given by Lynne Hamer, MLK 2024 Organization Committee Chairperson and Member of the Monroe Street United Methodist Church. A number of organizations and individuals presented musical selections, poems and speeches for the annual event.<\/p>\n

Dr. King’s speech had three key messages that the committee hoped would resonate in the turmoil and injustice in the world today. The Organizing Committee selected key lines that point to these themes:<\/p>\n

\"\"
Children and performers at MLK Our Time to Break Silence 2024<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

* Listening and compromise are necessary to resolve conflicts at any level<\/p>\n

* Violence hurts poor people more than anyone else<\/p>\n

* Those who can, must speak out on behalf of victims of violence who cannot<\/p>\n

* We must listen to and understand our “enemy’s” point of view<\/p>\n

* Rich and powerful countries should not support bombing people<\/p>\n

* People across the world are uniting in revolutionary calls for peace and justice<\/p>\n

* Only Love-not bombs-can triumph over hatred and evil<\/p>\n

* We must all make the active choice for love and solidarity-and must do so NOW<\/p>\n

The performers for the day included:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Musical Selections<\/em><\/p>\n

Toledo School for the Arts (ISA) Chamber Orchestra Ensemble<\/p>\n

\u201cWe Shall Always March Ahead\u201d – Arranged by Jay Welenc<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scott High Vocal Ensemble
\n\u201cAya Ngena\u201d – Arranged by Ruth Morris Gray
\n\u201cNothing is Gonna Stop Me\u201d – Arranged by Pink Zebra<\/p>\n

Spoken Word<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cTime is Ticking\u201d – By Anonymous
\n\u201cEenam Hashem\u201d – Perrysburg Schools
\n\u201cLeen Heyari\u201d – Dublin City Schools<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Poem<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIf I Must Die\u201d – By Rafaat Alareer
\n\u201cRhaya Heyari\u201d – Dublin City Schools<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Short Orations for MLK Observance <\/em><\/p>\n

Toledo Public Schools Students:<\/p>\n

Taylor Windsor
\nCaleb Short
\nAndrew McQueen<\/p>\n


\nMusical Selection<\/em><\/p>\n

The Doug 419 Community Youth Chorus with children of the Ann Jerkins-Harris Academy of Excellence<\/p>\n

\u201cBreaking the Silence\u201d written by Dianne Stubblefield-Moore<\/p>\n

\u201cQuote from Frederick Douglass\u201d written by Dianne Stubblefield-Moore<\/p>\n


\nProcessional<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cLift Every Voice and Sing\u201d by James Weldon Johnson ~ Clarence Smith, Founder and Director of Clarence Smith Community Chorus<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Introduction<\/em>
\nOscar Shaheer, MILK 2024 Organizing Committee<\/p>\n

Bell Toll<\/em>
\nPatricia McCauley, MLK 2024 Organizing Committee<\/p>\n


\nBeyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence<\/em><\/p>\n

Representatives of Toledo and Northwest Ohio Organizations<\/p>\n

Breaking Silence in Fellowship<\/em>
\nVietnam Veterans historic display, offered by Joyce Stubblefield;
\nPalestinian-American storytelling; information tables; punch, cookies, and conversation<\/p>\n

Audience Participation<\/em>
\nVernita Lewis Taylor, Toledo Public Schools, Reader Leader<\/p>\n

The MLK 2024 Breaking Silence Organizing Committee included:
\nFatima Adajani, Amer ah Archer, Patty Baughman, Marilyn DuFour, Leon Fitzpatrick, Tom Galloway, Diane Gordon, Pat Groves, Lynne Hamer, Bill Hoover, Vernita Lewis Taylor, Pat McCauley, Oscar Shaheer, Ruth Solo, Joyce Stubblefield and Joan Walldorf<\/p>\n

If you would like to participate in next year’s event, contact the committee via call or text to 419-283-8288.<\/p>\n