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Standing room only at MLK, Jr. Day event in Chelsea

Courtesy photo. Police Chief Ed Toth addresses the crowd.

(Chelsea Update would like to thank Joanne Ladio for the information in this story and Dr. Raymond Howe for the photos.)

There was standing room only in the Chelsea City Council chambers on Jan. 21 when the community came together to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a reaffirmation of a proclamation for equality and human rights.

The community was asked to sign the proclamation and Joanne Ladio said the document “looks beautiful.”

“With the bitter weather cold and the nasty virus cold going around, we were ecstatic at the turnout,” she said, which was estimated at 75 people.

Several City Council members, including Cheri Albertson, Marcia Parker and Dustin Suntheimer as well as Downtown Development Authority Chairman and attorney Peter Flintoft, Police Chief Ed Toth, Chelsea Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bob Pierce, SRSLY Director Reiley Curran, County Commissioner Kent Martinez-Kratz. Chelsea Library Director Bill Harmer and Superintendent of Schools Andy Ingall were all in attendance.

“I have been a planner in all of the 16 years we have celebrated Martin Luther King Day with events in Chelsea,” said Jackie Maveal, via email. “It has always been a worry, is anyone going to show up ( at least for me).”

But this year, she said, “On a bitter cold night at the police station when there was not a speaker, or concert, or food, I had my doubts. When the door kept opening and new faces as well as devoted ones kept piling in and filling the room, I was both amazed and proud.”

Both Toth and Harmer noted that their organizations’ mission statements were in keeping with the proclamation and that they were proud to serve all the citizens of Chelsea.

“Toth, especially, emphasized that the police were there for all citizens,” Ladio said.

Pierce emphasized the positive business and economic impact this would have and State Rep. Gretchen Driskell, who was in Wasgington, D.C. for the inauguration, sent a message, which was read by Martinez-Kranz.

In addition, youth members of SRSLY read quotes from MLK, Eleanor Roosevelt and the Declaration of Independence.

Ladio said, “Re-affirming important commitments is always good to do and today was an especially good day to re-affirm the content of this proclamation.”

She added, “MLK gave his life to help to establish the equality and freedom from discrimination that Chelsea has now held as their standards.”

Courtesy photo. The signed proclamation.
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