Barbara Lee pays tribute to MLK on anniversary of assassination
Today, Congresswoman Lee released the following statement to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination:
courtesy of Peter Max
“Fifty years ago today, our nation was forever changed when Dr. King was tragically shot and killed while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. Dr. King was a revolutionary who fought against the institutionalized forces of racism that continue to undermine the promise of freedom, liberty, and equality upon which our nation was founded.
“Exactly one year before his assassination, Dr. King delivered the speech ‘Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence’ and challenged us to tackle the ‘giant triplets’ – racism, materialism and militarism – through a radical revolution of values that questions the ‘fairness and justice of many of our past and present policies.’
“Dr. King understood that true fairness begins with racial and economic equality.
“If we are to create systemic change, we must address the growing economic wealth divide that disproportionately impacts people of color and the institutional racism that locks more than forty million Americans in poverty.
“We must reject the chaos of the Trump Administration and the racist, bigoted agenda they seek to empower through hateful policies and ill-informed budget priorities.
“Dr. King said, ‘The time is always right to do what is right.’ So, let us boldly act to protect our progress and make the American dream a reality for all by tirelessly working to end oppression and all forms of racism, bigotry, and discrimination.
“If we are to truly honor Dr. King’s life and spirit, let us recommit ourselves to the fight for justice and no longer accept silence on the things that matter.”
Today, Congresswoman Lee will speak at the official commemorative ceremony for Dr. King’s assassination at the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Hotel; and, in honor of Dr. King’s ongoing fight for economic equality, she will also speak at the AFSCME Local 1773 event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike.
