On what would have been Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 97th birthday and the 40th anniversary of MLK Day as a federal holiday, people packed Riverside Church in Morningside Heights.

It’s a place deeply tied to his legacy.

What You Need To Know

Leaders packed Riverside Church, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke one year before his assassination, marking his birthday and the 40th anniversary of MLK Day as a federal holiday

Speakers tied Dr. King’s message to the present, citing escalating immigration enforcement and health care

Both the Rev. Al Sharpton and state Attorney General Letitia James warned that Dr. King’s work is unfinished

Dr. King spoke there exactly one year before he was assassinated, warning about poverty, racism and militarism.

On Thursday night, speakers felt the same urgency, as immigration enforcement intensifies nationwide, including flashpoints like Minnesota, where federal officials say Americans may need to prove citizenship during enforcement operations.

“Asking people who they are so that we know who’s in those surroundings and if they are breaking our federal laws, we will detain them as well until we run that process,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said.

So, leaders asked one question: how would Dr. King respond?

“Dr. King would be part of those of us [who] have been raising our voices and supporting the protests around the country,” the Rev. Al Sharpton said.

In a one-on-one interview with NY1, Sharpton said Dr. King would be organizing.

“I think he’d be [at] the forefront of that, saying that what this president is doing is not only blatantly wrong and bigoted, it is immoral,” Sharpton said.

Sharpton also warned against being provoked, saying Dr. King taught discipline and purpose.

“Trump wants violence. So don’t bite the bait. That’s what Dr. King taught,” he said.

State Attorney General Letitia James also addressed the crowd, saying the country is moving in the wrong direction.

“We’re going backwards with an administration, which is unfortunately at odds with history,” James said.

Sharpton said the work Dr. King started remains unfinished.

“So don’t just honor Dr. King, emulate what Dr. King stood for,” he said.