King’s dream lives on at NAACP event

WILKES-BARRE — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Inside the Luzerne County Courthouse on Friday, there was no silence among friends as residents, leaders and dignitaries echoed the words of the civil rights leader.

About 100 people filled the courthouse for the Wilkes-Barre NAACP event to kick off the MLK holiday weekend. David Yonki, the branch’s first vice president, introduced the program speakers and detailed how they are connected to the NAACP’s mission. Friday’s event at the courthouse was a homecoming for Branch 2306 as it was revived there in 1984 after first forming in the 1930s. Constance Wynn, who is the organization’s historian and past president, evoked the sentiment as she told the audience about the branch’s path.

“It is also a wonderful day as Branch 2306 is able to bring this program back home to where it started, here inside the Luzerne County Courthouse,” she said.

Wynn also shared how far the organization has come over the years, as it was built a short time after African American slaves were emancipated. “It was those people who had compassion and understood that we as a nation were either going to rise up together or we were going to fall together,” she said.

George Brown, still fresh in his role as Wilkes-Barre mayor, welcomed the invitation from NAACP President Ron Felton to speak at the event and to share what makes up the city’s population.

“What makes up our city? What makes up the city of Wilkes-Barre? Diversity,” Brown said. “I love this city because we are made of a lot of diverse people.”

Brown introduced an initiative as mayor to highlight diverse populations at City Hall with artwork reflecting their cultures. He encouraged others to make art that will adorn soon-to-be freshly painted walls.

“I want to show people that once they walk into City Hall what makes up the city of Wilkes-Barre,” he said.

As mayor, Brown said he wants to work in partnership with the NAACP with civic issues.

“We’re going to work together: the city of Wilkes-Barre, the NAACP and any other diverse parts of our city to promote diversity, to promote fairness (and) promote safety,” he said.

As Brown reflected on the city’s present, state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski highlighted past divisions within the region and how King’s words still ring true

“Dr. King gave up his life trying to fight for fairness, for justice, for humanity, and his lessons can not go unnoticed,” Pashinski said. “He lives today because we honor him today. And he will live forever as long as we maintain that honor.”

Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre, detailed how the region’s Catholic churches were once divided by ethnicity and language barriers, but were without many differences. He also warned that there are many who presently trying to divide populations whereas King spoke against it.

“We must not allow for these things to divide us,” Pashinski said.

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Moosic, spoke of King’s nonviolence stance in the civil rights movement and how the leader’s principles for addressing social divisions can be applied today. Cartwright recalled the feeling he had walking across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., with fellow Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., where the civil rights leader sustained brutal injuries on “Bloody Sunday” on March 7, 1965. Working across the political aisle was one way Cartwright promotes King’s legacy.

“You don’t know how many deep friendships I have with the other side of the aisle,” Cartwright said. “And that’s because that’s what Dr. King would have wanted that and a lot of other people that I admire.”

The congressman also reminded the audience that the fight for racial equality is not over and to find inspiration in King’s actions and words and motivation from his strength and teachings.

“It is a reminder to all of us to make a conscious effort every day to continue the fight and to not become complacent in any of our thoughts and actions,” he said.

While the speakers linked King’s work to solutions for modern-day issues, it was Felton who passionately projected the leader’s words. As the night’s final orator, Felton delivered King’s “I Have A Dream” speech, with every word echoing throughout the courthouse.

The NAACP branch during the program honored Luzerne County Judge Lisa Gelb and her husband, attorney Barry Dyller, with lifetime memberships for their work with the organization. Gelb was a past keystone speaker, and Dyller’s law firm specializes in civil rights and employment litigation and previously earned a community achievement award. Gelb and Dyller were thrilled with the recognition.

“This is important to who I am and who my husband is the idea of supporting an organization that supports the world where everyone is treated equally,” Gelb said after the event ended. “That’s basically why I became a lawyer.”

After the program, Felton said that much of what King battled during his time is happening again today.

“Today, it’s like we’re going through the civil rights movement all over again, and we’re sliding backwards,” he said. “People need to get engaged. Everyone needs to participate in the political process. Whether you feel like your vote (will) count or not, you should participate.

“We are living in a very hostile climate where there’s so much anger. And we need to try to make King’s dream more of a reality,” Felton said.

Gloria Nervana of Salvation Christian Center sang musical selections throughout the evening, including “Take My Hand, Precious Lord.” The gospel song was a favorite of King and often performed by his friend Mahalia Jackson. Nervana and Pashinski led the audience to a rendition of “We Shall Overcome” which would later include Yonki, Felton, and Cartwright.