IRVINGTON, NJ — The Irvington Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Committee was co-founded by former Municipal Council President and Essex County Freeholder D. Bilal Beasley and current Freeholder Lebby Jones 31 years ago and, although Beasley has died, his work continues.
On Saturday, Jan. 16, the committee hosted its 31st annual Commemorative Tribute to the Life and Work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Irvington High School Auditorium. The 2016 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award was presented to East Orange Municipal Democratic Committee Chairman and Essex County Democratic Committee Chairman Leroy Jones.
The guest speaker at the event was Dr. Stephanie Bush-Baskette, aide to Mayor Tony Vauss, who also serves as the township’s Health Department director. Hillside Mayor Angela Garretson also recently appointed Bush-Baskette to serve as her acting business administrator.
Bush-Baskette said she was at the event to speak as a black woman to black children, adults and others in attendance. She also warned the youths in the audience about the very real dangers of becoming victims of the “prison industrial complex” by getting caught up in gangs, committing crimes or engaging in other violent, antisocial and ultimately self-destructive behavior antithetical to King’s dream.
“I don’t like to talk about white people and race, but I’m here today to speak as a black woman unfiltered,” Bush-Baskette said Saturday, Jan. 16, to the audience that filled the Irvington High School Auditorium, and which included East Orange Mayor Lester Taylor. “Young people, use your anger; get mad and turn that into something positive. There’s money in them there hills for putting people in prison that are not going to do that. Profit-making off of people in prisons comes from many of the companies and products that we use.”
Bush-Baskette went on to list the names of prominent, well-respected and profitable companies that, unbeknownst to most, make or sell products produced by prisoners who get paid little or nothing for their non-union labor, such as Whole Foods, Victoria’s Secret, WalMart and even tilapia fish farms.
“Prisoners are getting .47 cents an hour for raising tilapia. In many states, when you call the tourist line, that’s a prisoner you’re talking to,” Bush-Baskette said. “Why would they use prisoners? Because there’s no vacation, no sick time and no unions. I’m not saying not to shop at those places; I’m saying that we need to be aware.”
Vauss agreed with Bush-Baskette, saying, “The legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. doesn’t end when we walk out of those doors.”
“We need to teach our young people that,” Vauss, who is also the former president of the Irvington Board of Education, said Saturday, Jan. 16. “Each day that you don’t go out and do what you’re supposed to do, there was a life lost for that. Each day that you don’t go out and exercise your right to vote, there was a life lost for that. I want you to remember that and keep that in mind.”
Jones agreed with Vauss, adding the right to vote is as important as ever, particularly in a year with a presidential election. He said he was proud to have been chosen as the Irvington MLK Committee’s 2016 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award recipient.
“As I stand here, I’m very, very humbled by the token of appreciation and service,” Jones said on Saturday, Jan. 16. “To my East Orange family that is here, whether they be in the first row, second row or back row, I think Stephanie captured the essence of what this event is all about. We do an admirable job of keeping his dream alive and as these young people epitomize by doing well in school and in life.”
Jones, Vauss, Bush-Baskette, Superintendent of Schools Neely Hackett and everyone at the event said the proof of this was evident by the quality of the essays students across the district wrote for the contest sponsored by the committee.
The following winners of the 2016 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest were recognized at the event:
• third grade: Jennah Pickett, first place, Chancellor Avenue School; Shanice Wells, second place, Florence Avenue School; Densley Deriphonse, third place, Madison Avenue School;
• fourth grade: Alexander Gonzalez Anastasio, first place, Madison Avenue School; Ashle Alvarez-Tenemaza, second place, University Elementary School; Kayla Anicette, third place, Florence Avenue School;
• fifth grade: Keyarah Etienne, first place, Florence Avenue School; Arella Seepersad, second place, Chancellor Avenue School; Osayamen Amowie, third place, Berkeley Terrace School;
• sixth grade: Jasmine Guayllasaca, first place, Union Avenue Middle School; Melodie Meronvil, second place, Union Avenue Middle School; Dumtochi Nwoga, third place, Union Avenue Middle School;
• seventh grade: Kayla Charles, first place, University Middle School; Gabriela Tecla, second place, University Middle School; Chelsee Thelusma, third place, Union Avenue Middle School;
• eighth grade: Salissa Rajigadoo, first place, Union Avenue Middle School; Sandra Nnorom, second place, Union Avenue Middle School; Charles Thelusma, third place, University Middle School;
• ninth grade: Briana Spivey, first place; Earick Bowman, second place; Mardochee Charles, third place;
• 10th grade: Ruthaina Seche, first place, Miraj Seepersad, second place, Naomi Masslieno, third place;
• 11th grade: Opephany Curtis, first place; Joulissa Richard, second place; Antionnette Prater, third place; and
• 12th grade: Shafaye Scott, first place; Rachelle Pittman, second place; Jasmine Williams, third place.
All the winners from grades nine through 12 are students at Irvington High School. For more information about the Irvington Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Committee, call 973-371-6954.
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