Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement in Observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Contact Ricci Graham - (510) 305-2954
Oakland– Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) released the following statement today in honor and remembrance of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the holiday that celebrates his birth:
“This weekend we commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a man who taught us that violence is never the answer and that we can start working as peacemakers in our communities. It is my hope that we are emboldened by the words of Dr. King to put our weapons down and pick our people up: The bombs in Vietnam explode at home; they destroy the hopes and possibilities for a decent America. Childhood poverty in America is growing at the same time that our resources are being directed to the war machine. We must choose building bridges over bombers, deploying teachers at home over troops abroad, training doctors over drone pilots, and investing in our future rather than military operations.
“As peacemakers, we must pursue economic opportunities and non-violence locally, but we also must support national and international efforts to end war. Let us observe the birth of Dr. King by putting the goal of peace and non-violence at the center of our aspirations and create a secure future for our children. This is our opportunity to come together to rededicate our lives to the pursuit of peace. As we begin a new year and pursue an end to the war in Afghanistan, it is imperative that we refocus our national efforts on cutting defense spending, building ladders of opportunity through job creation, and reigniting the American Dream by investing in our greatest asset — our people.”
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