Passionate Crowd at Interfaith MLK Celebration

About 400 people of mixed races, religions and backgrounds shared laughs, smiles and emotions with one another during the 27th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. day Interfaith Worship Service, co-sponsored by the Peekskill Area Pastors Association and Mount Olivet Baptist Church.

The two-hour event focused on this country's progress towards equality since Dr. King's lifetime, but also on the importance of working together in order to help his dream to become fully realized. PAPA's Bishop Michael Champion opened the event with a quote from Dr. King that emphasized the importance of acceptance and unity: "The good neighbor looks beyond the external accidents and discerns those inner qualities that make all men and women human and, therefore, brothers and sisters."

Representatives from about a dozen different religious organizations participated and provided insight to the day's theme, "Dare to Dream."

"We are not where we are supposed to be," said Mount Olivet's Rev. Adolphi Lacey. "But thank God we are not where we used to be," Lacey said to applause.

During the opening hymn and the offering, a large screen showed historic photos of African-Americans rallying for equality that were juxtaposed with recent photos of accomplished black celebrities like Oprah, the Williams sisters, Denzel Washington, and of course, President Obama. Disturbing images of people stranded on rooftops and wading through floodwater following Hurricane Katrina represented the struggle that African-Americans still face in this country.

Rev. Lacey stirred the crowd with a speech that explained the three kinds of people involved when an individual or group "dares to dream:" dream fakers, dream haters and dream makers. Lacey told the crowd that the fakers are pretenders who will waste your time and need to be shed from your life; the haters "don't have what you have, but hate that you have it," and will bring you down; and the makers are the people who help others realize and accomplish their dreams.

Lacey quoted Dr. King: "Doors are opening to you--doors of opportunities that were not open to your mothers and your fathers — and the great challenge facing you is to be ready to face these doors as they open."

Lacey's message was relevant to all, but was very focused on the youth in the audience. At one point Lacey addressed the young women in the audience, telling them that a boyfriend who does not want them to attend college because he is not in school is a "dream hater."

New York State Senator Greg Ball also addressed the children and teenagers in the audience in his speech at the opening of the event.

"[Dr. King's] dream rests in your hands," Sen. Ball told the crowd. "Dr. King put out a message of love and hope, which should be lived out in you."

Several other local, county and state officials were seated in the crowd along with Sen. Ball, including: Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, New York State Congresswoman Nan Hayworth, Westchester County Legislator John Testa, Westchester County Board Legislator Ken Jenkins, Peekskill Mayor Mary Foster, City Manager Rick Finn and several council members.

The brand new Peekskill Middle School's auditorium, where the event was held, provided a well-equipped stage for the numerous musical acts and dance act that performed. The Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Youth and Adult Choirs both sang several numbers, Tuesday McDonald, the youth choir director sang a powerful solo, the Temple Israel of Northern Westchester group performed and Staj and Stajettes Dance Troupe performed. Click the video and photos above to see some of the entertainment.

Editor's Note: The original article stated that there were about 200 people in the crowd, the more accurate estimation is about 400 people. Patch regrets the error.