Today is Martin Luther King Day and President Obama's second term inauguration.

Martin Luther King Jr

A letter opener may have changed history. Martin Luther King Jr. would have died long before the “I Have a Dream” speech if the woman who attacked him in a Harlem department store in 1958 had been armed with an automatic pistol instead of the sharpened letter opener she plunged into his chest.

A NYPD officer stopped a panicked onlooker who was reaching to pull it from King's chest.

The NYPD officer told King not to cough or sneeze or even speak as they lifted him onto a chair and began to carry him out through a back exit and rushed him to Harlem hospital. The doctor reported that the blade had been a hair’s breadth from King’s aorta. The slightest motion would likely have made the wound fatal.

King lived to give the “I Have a Dream” speech five years later, in 1963. The assassination by rifle bullets of President John F. Kennedy three months later prompted King to speak of a social sickness that runs as deep as racism.

“By our readiness to allow arms to be purchased at will and fired at whim, by allowing our movie and television screens to teach our children that the hero is one who masters the art of shooting and the technique of killing, by allowing all these developments, we have created an atmosphere in which violence and hatred have become popular pastimes,” Martin Luther King Jr.

As as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day and President Obama's inauguration today we remember King was assassinated with a rifle bullet as was former President Kennedy, President Lincoln, President Garfield, President McKinley and Robert F Kennedy.

Throughout NYC today celebrations in honor of Martin Luther King will take place from a tour of Harlem that will include stops at the Apollo Theatre, Lenox Lounge (where Billie Holiday performed), and the site of the NYC assassination attempt to performances by the world famous Harlem Gospel choir.

Pesident Obama

Today in Washington, New York will play a major role in the inauguration. New York talent, food and beverages will share the spotlight in today's Presidential inauguration.

The ceremony will begin with a performance by the P.S. 22 chorus from Staten Island, and the Brooklyn Tabernacle will sing just before Vice President Biden is sworn in - by Bronx-born Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

The inaugural lunch for the President, the Vice President, their families, Congress and the Supreme Court will have a New York flavor as well.

On the menu: a 2009 Merlot from Bedell Cellars in North Fork, Long Island., and a 2010 dry Riesling from the Finger Lakes; cheese from Cooperstown; Hudson Valley Apple Pie and water from Saratoga Springs.

Senator Chuck Shumer of New York planned the inauguration ceremony.  Senator Schumer will deliver three minutes of opening remarks.
 
 
Congratulations President Obama on this historic day.
 
   

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Posted by Mitchell Hall ~ Licensed Associate RE Broker on 01/21/2013 08:08 AM   Comments (11)   Holidays in the ActiveRain Channel   martin luther king jr, pesident barak obama, harlem  
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11 Comments on NY celebrates Martin Luther King Jr and Pres Obama's Inauguration

JAN
21
1,011,774 Points 84 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Amazing.  I'm not sure I ever heard that MLK story Mitchell, if I did, I forgot all about it.
9:00am • #1
953,048 Points 13 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Mitchell,

I really like your quote about the art of shooting...it speaks directly to the violence in Connecticut and in Denver last year...A
10:30am • #2
469,772 Points 66 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi Roger, Amazing. I never heard it until I read it yesterday. As you know, I have listings and sell in Harlem and I love history.

Hi Alexandra. MLK certainly got it in 1963.
1:50pm • #3
389,998 Points 26 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Excellent post as always Mitchell.. I love your stories.. amazing history. and of course. that Hudson Valley Apple Pie.... exists right here in my backyard.
4:20pm • #4
1,011,774 Points 84 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

I do know you sell in Harlem and that's what makes your blog so interesting, you know the City so well and so many wonderful facts.
4:22pm • #5
469,772 Points 66 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Janis, I wish I was at the innauguration just to have that Hudson Valley Apple pie,-)

Thanks Roger.
5:20pm • #6
350,550 Points 8 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I didn't know about the 1958 department store incident. Your message about gun control comes through loud and clear.
7:16pm • #7
469,772 Points 66 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi Jill, Thanks, I thought it was subtle,-)
8:31pm • #8
JAN
22
1,417,185 Points 28 Featured Posts Hit Router Called Shot Master

Thanks Mitchell, I hadn't hear about that earlier attempt.
3:47am • #9
1,119,711 Points 25 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi Mitchell, found you on Roger's post where he has written an endorsement on you....there were so many celebrations for MLK Day...we had one in Lewisuburg as well.
10:53am • #10
484,078 Points 82 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Mitchell, I was so glad to read Roger Mucci's endorsement of you. His confidence in your services will now be known by many more people as the word spreads.
3:04pm • #11


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Mitchell Hall ~ Licensed Associate RE Broker, Manhattan, NYC Real Estate (The Corcoran Group) Rainmaker_large

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