“Today we celebrate the life of a civil rights pioneer, Coretta Scott King. Mrs. King was a leader in her own right, advocating for peace, equality and social progress at home and abroad. She turned the tragedy of her husband’s death into a life dedicated to achieving his dream. Coretta Scott King will join the ranks of the many African American leaders we honor this month.”

“As we remember struggles past during Black History Month, we must renew our fight to promote justice and equality in America. We must ask what leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Justice Thurgood Marshall and Rosa Parks would say about the challenges that face our nation today.”

“The future of the poor evacuees who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina remains uncertain. The wage gap between blacks and whites and women and men remains wide today. Thousands of our young men and women are fighting an unnecessary war of choice without proper equipment and with no end in sight.”

“We must learn from the lessons of the past to strengthen our nation today. It is our duty to keep the legacy of the great African American leaders alive. As Frederick Douglass said, ‘If there is no struggle there is no progress.’ Today, we carry on the historic march for opportunity, peace, and equality in America.”