NEW YORK -- David Dinkins prepared Sunday to take office as the city's first black mayor with a tribute to the values of diversity that he extolled throughout his election campaign.
The ceremonies scheduled for Monday were designed to mirror what Dinkins has called the 'gorgeous mosaic' of New York's ethnic and racial groups. The inaugural party will include 200 homeless people invited by the mayor-elect.
Dinkins, the Manhattan borough president who defeated three-term incumbent Edward Koch in the September Democratic primary, has filled many of his key posts with women and minorities, including Houston police chief Lee Brown who is black and will be New York's police commissioner.
Dinkins spent Sunday afternoon at an ecumenical prayer service at the Church of the Intercession in Washington Heights which featured sermons and prayers by religious leaders of all faiths, including South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize winner whose invitation to inaugural events sparked criticism from Jews offended by his comments on the Mideast, urged Dinkins before a packed congregation to continue in his role as a 'healer' for the city's factions.
'God calls on you, Brother David. Will you help Me so that in the end New York will be a more compassionate and sharing city?' Tutu asked.
Speaking on the eve of a new decade, Tutu said, 'God has a dream of a world where hostility, alienation and hatred are done away with.'
Jesse Jackson, who arrived from a news conference at a Harlem church where he accused the Bush Administration of covering up casualty figures from the Panamanian invasion, also extolled Dinkins' ability to bring disparate groups together.
Jackson, who analysts say did not campaign for Dinkins during the general election because of his controversial status among the city's Jews, spoke for about 20 minutes.
'In the quest of hope and healing over disaster and despair, the hopes of millions rest in the hands of David Dinkins,' Jackson said.
The two-time Democratic presidential candidate punctuated his address with a call for all city residents to come together to support the new mayor.
'David Dinkins cannot bear this cross alone,' Jackson repeated several times.
Jackson also made a potentially controversial statement about the situation in the Middle East, noting that 'the birthplace of Jesus Christ is under occupation.'
The mayor-elect, dressed in a dark business suit and flanked in the front row by his family, was clearly pleased with the program, which included music, prayers of different faiths and a translator who used sign language for the deaf.
Dinkins was expected to be sworn in as New York City's 106th mayor at a private midnight ceremony at the Bronx home of Judge Fritz Alexander.
The public inaugural of the city's first black mayor was scheduled to begin on the steps of City Hall Monday morning with dancers of the Korean Music Institute. Talent Unlimited, a 54-voice choir of high school students from around the city, planned to perform next.
More than 300 prominent guests will then enter onto the main stage out of three doors of City Hall.
At least three separate groups said Sunday they planned to mount protests at the Monday inaugural ceremony.
Jewish activists said they would demonstrate against Tutu, who is scheduled to attend the Monday ceremony. Gay and women's activists said they will protest Cardinal John O'Connor -- who will also attend Monday -- the Catholic church's policy on abortion and safe sexual practices. And housing activists plant to demonstrate against the city's policy on squatters.
Dinkins organizers raised about $200,000 to pay for the inaugural and the party afterwards. The funds were solicited privately after the city's campaign finance board raised concerns about Dinkins' plans to use his $1 million in surplus funds to pay for the inauguration.
Gifts were limited to $10,000 for individuals and corporations and $25,000 for partnerships -- a practice that was criticized by civic groups who charged the limits were too high.
Dinkins is scheduled to take the public oath of office from Judge Alexander and deliver his inaugural remarks.
