Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which is observed annually as a national day of service on the third Monday of January in honor of the civil rights leader’s birthday on January 15, 1929:
“Today, we honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of our country’s most historic trailblazers of the civil rights movement and a dedicated advocate in the pursuit of racial justice, equality, peace and humanity for all. Dr. King was a champion of intersectionality and cultural solidarity. Dr. King recognized that our fight to end racism and injustice could not be separated from the other issues facing marginalized communities. As we face growing challenges abroad in the coming year, let us recall Dr. King’s warning that ‘it is no longer a choice between violence and nonviolence in this world; it’s nonviolence or no existence.’ We must continue to fight against what Dr. King called the ‘triple evils’, racism, poverty, and militarism. These evils increasingly plague our society today.
“As extreme MAGA Republicans propose dangerous legislation that undermines our democracy and threatens our voting rights, reproductive freedom, and economic justice, it is more important than ever that we dismantle systemic policies that harm our communities and undermine our democracy. From fighting for voting rights, to establishing a truth telling commission and reparations, to fighting against poverty – our commitment to justice is inspired by the service and sacrifice of Dr. King.
“We must continue to valiantly beat the drum for justice and create a world where all people, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, or any other identity, are treated with respect and dignity. As Dr. King said, ‘the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.’ On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, let us honor his legacy by committing ourselves to supporting our communities and striving for peace, justice and equality for all.”