All Week Long
Originally published by Daily Herald | January 20, 2025
Editor’s Note: The following is the text of a speech delivered last Dec. 14 by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle at the 55th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Remembrance Dinner in Palatine.
Thank you for that warm introduction and thank you all for being here tonight at this Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Remembrance Dinner.
As we gather to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy, I am reminded of what a tremendous leader he was. Dr. King was not only a visionary but also a tireless organizer. And organizing — as anyone who has done it will tell you — requires patience, grit and steady determination.
The Civil Rights Movement depended on an entire generation of leaders. Some of their names are etched in our history books, but many remain unsung.
These were men and women who added their voices to the debate and their bodies to the fight. They marched, they sat in, they stood firm, they organized and they mobilized. It is their persistence and dedication that helped bring about changes that once seemed impossible.
When temperatures in Cook County are expected to dip to unsafe levels, the County's Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security provides an updated list of warming centers for residents to protect themselves and their families.
Residents who need to seek shelter at a warming center should contact the center first to verify availability and hours of operation.
Warming centers within the City of Chicago can be found on the city's website.
Paid for by Preckwinkle for President. A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board's official website, http://elections.il.gov/, or for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois. All contributions are reported to the State Board of Elections. Contributions are not accepted from employees of Cook County. Companies holding contracts with the Cook County are limited to $750.
Political contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes.