This bill commemorates the 80th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. King was the leader of an historic nonviolent revolution in the U.S. Over the course of his life, he fought for equal justice and led the nation toward racial harmony. While advancing this great movement, Dr. King’s home was bombed and he was subjected to relentless personal and physical abuse.
Despite this violence, Dr. King responded in peace, and with strong conviction and sound reason. As a pastor, Dr. King’s religious beliefs were essential to the success of his nonviolent efforts. It is doubtful that such a long and enduring movement could have survived without the power of religious inspiration behind it.
From 1957 to 1968, Dr. King traveled over six million miles and spoke over 2500 times about justice and equal freedom under the law. During that time, he led large protests in Birmingham, Alabama, that drew the attention of the world.
On August 28, 1963, Dr. King led a peaceful march of 250,000 through the streets of Washington, D.C. And it is here, in this city, where he delivered a speech that spoke for all Americans, regardless of the color of their skin. In his “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. King called the march the “greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.”
“I have a dream,” he said, “that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
Dr. King opened the door of opportunity for millions of Americans. He lived for the causes of justice and equality.
On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his hotel room in Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. King was assassinated.
But a single vicious act could not extinguish Dr. King’s legacy, which endures to this day. Because of him, America is a better, freer nation.
I urge all my colleagues to join me in celebrating and honoring the life of Dr. King on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of his birth.