On Monday, January 17, 2022, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson hosted a service honoring the legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in conjunction with Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church. The service was conducted by Reverend Frederick Crawford, Senior Pastor at Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church.
The theme of this year’s service was “Moving Forward with the Dreamer’s Dream” and Reverend Dr. Johnnie Green, Senior Pastor at Mt. Neboh BC served as the keynote speaker for the program. United States Senator Chuck Schumer, NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, Congress Member Jamaal Bowman, City Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr., City Council Member Althea Stevens, City Council Member Marjorie Valazquez and NYS Assembly Member Chantel Jackson were also in attendance.
“The late Dr. King was a leader, a teacher and a preacher who fought for racial equality his whole life and was the catalyst for change in America,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. “In the past week, I have seen our borough come together and support one another as a community in the darkest of times, but we still have a tremendous amount of work ahead of us to create a future in which the block you live on does not block opportunity. As your new Borough President, I will not stop fighting towards a more equal and just society for everyone.”