Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Courtesy/Alan Webber

In 1963 when I was 15 years old, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. came to preach at my family’s synagogue, Temple Israel in St. Louis, Missouri. (See the story here.) There were 3,000 people there that day. But I can remember exactly where I sat and what Dr. King talked about in his sermon. He talked about the love that connects and unites people of all faiths, all races, all cultures, and all creeds. Just to be in the presence of a man of Dr. King’s moral stature made a lasting impression on me, an experience I’ll carry with me the rest of my life.

A few years later, when I was a junior in high school, I had another experience that made a lasting impression on me.

My English teacher paired us off and told us to go out at night and experience something new that we could write about.

I borrowed my parents’ Chevy, picked up my classmate and literally drove it down to the levy—to the St. Louis waterfront, around midnight, to do something we had never done before.

I was driving near the rows of warehouses when a red light appeared in my rear view mirror. I was being pulled over by the police. An officer came to my window. I gave him my license and registration, and waited while he disappeared to check me out. After what seemed like an eternity, he came back and gave me back my papers. Then he said something I’ll never forget: “Monday, Wednesday, and Friday the waterfront is for white people. Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday is for black people. This is Tuesday. So get your white ass back to the suburbs.”

Two stories, two messages I’ll never forget—one a message of tolerance, acceptance, and love, the other a message of intolerance, division, and hate. 

I think of those two stories on this MLK Day because every day we have a choice to make. At a time when too often there is too much hate, too much intolerance, too much racism, what kind of City will we be? What kind of values will we embrace? What kind of message will we send out into the world?

Here’s what I believe about Santa Fe.

Santa Fe is a City of values, first and foremost. We are a compassionate and caring community. We call ourselves a Sanctuary city, because of how we take care of immigrants. But we are also a Sanctuary city because of how we take care of each other. Santa Fe is a City of respect. Everyone deserves respect—and when we treat each other with respect we increase the tolerance around us. Santa Fe is a City of diversity. We celebrate our different heritages and backgrounds, recognizing what makes us different, amplifying what makes us the same. Santa Fe is a City of caring. We come together to take care of our own through countless acts of generosity, philanthropy, and assistance. Santa Fe is a City of inclusion. Everyone has a place in the house and a seat at the table. In the end, Santa Fe is a City of love and a City of faith.

On this day when we honor the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., let us all rededicate ourselves to the lessons he taught and the values he stood for. Happy MLK Day from my family to yours.

Thank you.