DA honors leaders during Black History Month celebration

Queens DA Melinda Katz honored local leaders during a Black History Month celebration last week. Photo courtesy of DA’s Office

By Rachel Vick

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz hosted a Black History Month celebration last week at the Black Spectrum Theater.

The event to honor the contributions and efforts of Black community organizers, leaders and educators featured remarks from special speaker Rev. Al Sharpton.

“Honoring Black History is an important statement every year. We have to celebrate and pay tribute to the often-overlooked contributions of African Americans in our own borough of Queens and across the nation,” Katz said. “This program has been a great opportunity for reflection and celebration.”

Honorees included hip hop artist and current Queens Public Library Hip Hip Coordinator Ralph McDaniels and activist Larry “Love” Moore.

The BlaQue Resource Network and its founder Aleeia Abraham were celebrated for providing space for Black people in Queens to network, promote local businesses and amplify community voices.

Katz also honored longtime members of the DA’s office.

Supervising Assistant District Attorney in the Major Economic Crimes Bureau Allison Wright, who has been part of the office for 20 years, and Felony Trial Bureau Secretary Sharon Walker, who has served for 36 years, were celebrated for their dedication to the office.

“The best way to celebrate Black history is to continue to make some and to use what we have in our hands and use what we have available to us,” Sharpton said. “Every generation before us found a way to give the next generation a better life.”

“At the end of the day, you will not be judged by what you said ... you will be judged by what you did,” he said. “So your commitment tonight ought to be that I will make some Black history.”

The celebration also included dynamic performances from the Devore Dance Company, soloists June Rodgers and Jared Davidson, and a number from the Queens Alliance Drumline.