Tuesday January 19th Mayor David Cicilline and several hundred Rhode Islanders inducted three very influential and deserving Americans to the City of Providences Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hall Of Fame. This is the 7th Year of inductees to the one of its kind tribute to Dr Martin Luther King and as in the past, the inductees were correctly chosen for the honor because of their King like contributions to the community and indeed the entire State of Rhode Island.

The inductees for 2010 were Teny O. Gross, Clifford R. Montiero, and The Honorable O. Rogeriee Thompson. The program included a welcome to those in attendance by Mayor Cicilline, a Message of Peace from the Rev. Margaret Tyson of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church and a presentation by Professor Tricia Rose, Chairperson, Brown University Department of Africana Studies. The highlight of the program was a reading by Joe Wilson, Jr. from the speeches of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and a musical presentation by RPM Voices of Rhode Island.

Teny Gross recognized for his work on the street fighting against violent gang activity and violence in the community in general. Gross an immigrant from Israel brings his military training and experience to the streets of Rhode Island. By working with local Law Enforcement and the community Teny and his team from the Institute for Non-Violence have been successful in bridging the gap between the Police Departments and community members engaged in violent behavior.

Clifford Montiero, President of the Providence NAACP branch and long time civil rights advocate was inducted into the MLK Hall of Fame for his tireless efforts on the behalf of those whose civil rights have been challenged. Montiero a former member of law enforcement has a history of fighting for whats right regardless of the consequences. Montiero has been a voice for those with little voice and for those civil or human rights violations made public.

Judge O. Rogeriee Thompson, member of Rhode Islands Judiciary and Federal Court Judge nominee is honored for her years of service to the state of Rhode Island from the Bench, as a Defense Attorney, Civil Rights Attorney and a former Legal Services Attorney serving those who needed legal representation the most. As the first African American female ever to serve on the Rhode Island Bench and now pending to become the first African American female to sit on the First District Court in Boston, Judge Thompsons induction to the MLK Hall of Fame is consistent with those principles that Dr. King defended with his life. Congratulations to all of the 2010 inductees from the readership of The Providence American.

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