Categories: Articles, Pat Stevenson,
New York marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a series of events that placed the civil rights icon’s legacy squarely in the context of today’s political climate. Governor Kathy Hochul used her remarks to draw a sharp contrast between Dr. King’s moral leadership and what she described as modern threats to democracy.
Speaking on MLK Day, Governor Hochul told the audience, “I’m here to talk about the only true king that America ever had. And that is Dr. Martin Luther King, a king who lived for justice, a king who embodied love and compassion.” She praised King as a leader who inspired collective action rather than personal power, adding that he “created the beloved community that he spoke of” and “gave power to the people.”
Governor Hochul delivered MLK Day remarks at several prominent venues across New York City, including the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s 40th Annual Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and an event hosted by the National Action Network. Each appearance emphasized themes of justice, civic engagement, and resistance to what she characterized as the erosion of fundamental rights.
Her message continued the day before, during a celebration at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. There, Hochul focused on the fears facing immigrant communities. She acknowledged that many immigrants are afraid to attend church, seek medical care, or send their children to school because of immigration enforcement. She sought to reassure the congregation by stating that in New York, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is not permitted to enter churches, hospitals, daycares, or schools without a warrant.
The governor framed these protections as part of a broader defense of civil liberties, linking them directly to King’s vision. Addressing the packed sanctuary, she declared, “We are not surrendering our rights and we are not going back.” The statement was met with thunderous applause and a standing ovation, reflecting strong support for her stance among those in attendance.
Across the weekend, Hochul’s remarks cast MLK Day not only as a moment of remembrance, but as a call to action. By invoking Dr. King as a moral compass for the present, she urged New Yorkers to see the civil rights movement as unfinished business and to remain vigilant in defending justice, compassion, and democratic values in uncertain times.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced that 17 New York State landmarks were lit red, green and black, January 19, 2026, in recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Dr. King’s enduring message of nonviolence, hope, equality and justice. The 17 venues included: 1WTC, Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, Kosciuszko Bridge, The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building, State Education Building, Alfred E. Smith State Office Building, Empire State Plaza, State Fairgrounds – Main Gate & Expo Center, Niagara Falls, The “Franklin D. Roosevelt” Mid-Hudson Bridge, Grand Central Terminal – Pershing Square Viaduct, Albany International Airport Gateway, Lake Placid Olympic Center, MTA LIRR – East End Gateway at Penn Station, Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal, Moynihan Train Hall and Roosevelt Island Lighthouse
