Dozens of community members gathered at the Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church on Smith Street in Poughkeepsie on Monday, Jan. 21 for the 13th annual Mid-Hudson Martin Luther King Jr. march for social and economic justice. Before beginning their mile-long march through midtown, community leaders delivered messages about hope, change and economic instability.
“I’m sad to see that there’s not more people here today,” said longtime community activist Mae Parker-Harris. “You can’t let the weather stop you; it didn’t stop Dr. King, and it doesn’t stop people from being poor.”
Dutchess County legislator Joel Tyner (D-Clinton/Rhinebeck) agreed; “It’s hard to find someone more inspirational than Martin Luther King.”
Tyner, who cites a livable wage as one of his biggest social concerns, said that in the midst of nationwide economic instability, he was inspired by San Francisco’s most recent minimum wage increase to $9.36/hour in 2008, up from $9.14/hour in 2007. He has proposed a county-wide minimum wage increase to $10/hour. San Francisco’s minimum wage has been increasing steadily over the past four years, and the city’s current minimum wage rate applies to every employee who works in the city of San Francisco, full- or part-time, and is not impacted by an employee’s age. Tyner’s Dutchess County plan includes possible exceptions, including small businesses, not-for-profits, and being hired by one’s spouse. He’s drafted a petition that he hopes will aid in improving Dutchess Xounty’s economic situation by putting more money into workers’ pockets.
“You can barely make a living on $10/hour in Dutchess County,” Tyner said. “It’s time to prime the economic pump.”
City Councilwoman Penny Lewis (D-5th Ward) supports Tyner’s proposal. “It’s time to make our city a better city,” said Lewis. “Our city is becoming more diversified. I’ve been here since 1956, and not much has changed.”
More than 200 people turned out to the first annual march in Poughkeepsie in 1996, and nearly 150 showed up the following year. In recent years attendance has hovered around 50 or 60 people, but neither weather nor economic woes could stop this year’s attendees from celebrating Dr. King’s message.
“I got a flier on my car,”said Marist student Chris Cardella. “It’s important to come out. It’s really cold, but we’ll survive.”
“The cold weather won’t keep me away,” said longtime community activist Ann Perry. “Martin Luther King’s dream is just a dream right now, and maybe some day it will become a reality. Until then, by the grace of God, I’ll be here.”
Marchers brandished “Obama” stickers, and held posters of Martin Luther King as they marched through the city to their Market Street destination. Celebration, discussion and brainstorming continued at Holy Light Pentecostal Church on Clover Street until 4 p.m.
“With 60 or so folks in weather as cold as it was, with the speeches as inspiring as they were, with the call- and-response as energetic as it was, and with dozens of folks staying for the entire program,” said Tyner, “I’m inspired and re-energized.”
For more information on Tyner’s ‘living wage’ petition, visit http://www.petitiononline.com/livwage.