A Governor's Bold Words on MLK Day: Protecting Rights and Praising Progress

On a Sunday dedicated to honoring Martin Luther King Jr. , Governor Kathy Hochul took to the pulpit of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. She spoke to over a thousand people, mixing her message with a hymn and some controversial views. She talked about the fear that some people feel, especially those who might be targeted by ICE. She claimed that fear keeps people from even going to church, worried they might be taken away. Hochul then made a bold statement. She said that in her state, ICE agents can't enter places like churches, hospitals, or schools without a judge's warrant. She made it clear that she believes in protecting these spaces and the rights of the people in them. Her tone was firm, almost like a battle cry. She declared that they won't give up their rights and won't go backward.But her speech wasn't just about ICE. She also took a moment to praise Manhattan's District Attorney, Alvin Bragg. At first, she mixed up his title, calling him the Attorney General. Then she joked that maybe one day he could be the Attorney General and even change who lives in the White House. She said Bragg has been a great partner in making the streets safer, even though she claimed she wasn't being political. Hochul pointed out that crime rates in Manhattan have dropped to record lows. She gave Bragg a lot of credit for this progress. But some might wonder if her speech was more about politics than preaching. After all, she was speaking on a day meant to honor a civil rights leader, not a political platform.