The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., New York's pushback on ICE
Dr Martin Luther King Jr. speaks before a crowd of 25,000 civil rights marchers in front of the state capitol building in Montgomery, Alabama, on March 25, 1965. Credit: Getty Images/Stephen F. Somerstein
See MLK clearly without filters
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1965 commencement speech at Hofstra University during the Civil Rights era was a testament to his continued anti-war position [“At Hofstra, MLK spoke of a ‘poverty of the spirit,’ ” News, Jan. 19]. His message about “the three evils” of our society — racism, poverty, and militarism — are many times sanitized over by those speaking and observing his birthday celebrations in our local Long Island communities.
What many do not mention is that King was a fierce anti-war activist, and his writings and speeches show this. Avoidance of his statements regarding war and militarism only diminishes his life to a pick-and-choose event.
His “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence” speech in 1967, one year before his death, is one of his most important speeches. King opposed the Vietnam War because it took money away from social programs. He said, “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.”
To observe and celebrate his birthday each year and not address his anti-war sentiments is disingenuous and a misuse of King’s life and legacy.
— Myrna Gordon, Port Jefferson
State pushback cannot bind ICE
Gov. Kathy Hochul can pass all the laws against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement she wants “Laws would limit ICE enforcement in NYS,” News, Jan. 15]. None will have any effect on how agents perform their responsibilities. Federal laws overrule state laws.
Safety, overuse of social safety nets, loss of affordable housing, and food distribution concerns are just some problems caused by illegal immigration.
Having sanctuary states openly defies federal law on immigration and are of great concern. The Civil War started when states disobeyed federal law and followed their own ideologies. The word “united” must be enforced as in the United States of America.
— John Romano, Baldwin
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