TEANECK - Joined by Secretary of State Tahesha Way and Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco, Governor Phil Murphy today celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the 51^st anniversary of his death by naming 14 new members to the New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission. 

“While Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was taken from us all too early, his legacy is alive and well in New Jersey,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “I am proud to announce fourteen new members to our MLK Commission in order to ensure that his spirit lives on in New Jersey. By continuing to redress systemic inequality and poverty, increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour, and providing an on-ramp to the middle class for all, we can honor the man who gave his life fighting for values that we too often take for granted.” 

Among the new members of the commission are leaders from the faith and civil rights communities who represent the spiritual, geographic, and racial diversity that characterize New Jersey.

“From the leaders and advocates who made the $15-minimum-wage a reality to the volunteers so committed to strengthening our communities, taking the first step was essential,” said Secretary of State Tahesha Way. “It is in that spirit that we continue Dr. King’s important legacy. To this day, Americans from all walks of life respond to Dr. King’s mission—his audacious faith, as he called it.  Acts of social good flow freely from Dr. King’s teachings, because he demonstrated that alleviating societal ills should be reflexive, habitual, and liberating. We will never forget Dr. King’s enduring legacy of fighting poverty and standing up for the voiceless.”  

“In his last months, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. fought for fair wages and safe workplaces,” said Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco. “As leaders today, we honor his legacy best when we continue his efforts by making progress for working people. This was Dr. King’s dream, and a brighter future for all of us is now our collective dream.”

“This day is an opportunity to memorialize the teachings of Dr. King as a guidepost for our future leaders,” said Jackie P. Taylor, Commissioner, New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission. “Dr. King’s legacy, philosophy and principles are universal; not just impactful during his life, they transcend time and should be referenced more often as we face today’s challenges.”

The Governor appointed the following members to the commission:

Public Member

Diane Hill, Ph.D. (Bloomfield)

Public Member

Charles E. Menifield (Newark) 

Public Member

Al-Tariq W. Best (Newark)

Public Member

The Honorable Carolyn V. Chang, Esq. (Westampton)  

Public Member

Brenda R. Lee (Bloomfield)

Public Member

Willie Dwayne Francois III (Mays Landing)

Public Member

Quincy Bloxom (Burlington)

Public Member

Reverend Timothy Levi Adkins-Jones (Newark)

Public Member

Reverend Jack Johnson (Columbus)

Public Member

Bernadette Glover, D.Min. (Piscataway)

Public Member

Pastor Kenneth D.R. Clayton (Paterson)

Public Member

Imam W. Deen Shareef (Morris Plains)

Public Member

Andrea McChristian (Newark) 

Public Member

Jamie E. Bland (Paterson)

The Commission’s mandate includes developing and advising the Governor and the Legislature of activities in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday; establishing programs designed to educate the public about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights movement; meeting with groups and organizations to coordinate events and seek volunteers who are willing to donate their talents; and receiving donations from individuals and public and private organizations to carry on the Commissioner’s responsibilities and address the needs of Dr. King's living memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.