[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 8 (Friday, January 22, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E77]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SHILOH BAPTIST MISSIONARY CHURCH AS THEY CELEBRATE THE 40TH ANNUAL DR. 
                  MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., LOVE MARCH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 22, 2010

  Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, it is my great privilege to rise today to 
join all of those gathered in honoring the life and legacy of Dr. 
Martin Luther King, Jr. Across Connecticut there will be a multitude of 
events paying tribute to Dr. King, but the longest-running will take 
place in my hometown of New Haven at the Shiloh Baptist Missionary 
Church. It is there that community leaders, families, friends, and 
neighbors will gather to participate in the 40th Annual Dr. Martin 
Luther King, Jr., Love March.
  Founded by the late Pastor George W. Hampton and today carried on by 
his son, Pastor Kennedy Hampton, Sr., for 40 years on January 15th at 
eleven o'clock in the morning, the Greater New Haven community has 
gathered to participate in the Martin Luther King, Jr., Love March. The 
Love March has never been cancelled or postponed--wind, rain, snow, nor 
freezing temperatures have determined the number of participants but 
has never influenced the commencement of the march.
  The late Pastor Hampton began the Love March as a means to remind our 
community of the important lessons of Dr. King and the Civil Rights 
Movement. I once heard Pastor Hampton tell the story of his meeting 
with Dr. King. As I recall, the Pastor told him about his work in the 
civil rights movement and Dr. King responded, ``That's part of the 
dream--keep it up.'' Pastor Hampton has certainly followed that charge.
  Each time I join in the March, I am inspired by the uplifting spirit 
of the crowd as we sing and move through the neighborhoods of New 
Haven. For those of us who remember those difficult times, it seems 
obvious why we continue these strong traditions. In some ways we should 
be proud that the younger generations of today ask why we continue, why 
is it relevant? We, as a nation, have certainly made great strides in 
our efforts to ensure equality among all of our citizens. However, we 
still have a long way to go and that is why the Love March and other 
events like it are so important to our communities. They remind us of 
how far we have come and renew our commitment to the ideals of justice 
and full equality for all.
  I am proud to stand today to congratulate the Shiloh Baptist 
Missionary Church on the 40th anniversary of the Love March. I cannot 
thank them enough for their commitment to ensuring that we always 
remember the sacrifices that were made by Dr. King to change the very 
character of our Nation--to open the doors of opportunity to all, right 
long-standing wrongs and bring justice to those so long denied full 
partnership in American society. For New Haven, the annual Love March 
is a cornerstone in the celebration of the life and spirit of Dr. King 
and remains a stirring reminder of a troubled time and a peaceful soul.