Hoyer Observes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day with Virtual Events in the Fifth District

Statement

Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) observed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day by participating in virtual events in the Fifth Congressional District, including St. Mary's College of Maryland's eighteenth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Celebration and the Charles County NAACP's twenty-seventh annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast.

"I was honored once again to pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Fifth District today and celebrate his lasting legacy as a champion for voting rights and equality," said Congressman Hoyer. "Heroes like Martin Luther King Jr., like my dear friend and brother John Lewis, and like so many others dedicated their lives and shed blood so that no American could be denied access to the ballot box. On this day, we ought to remember their courage and resilience in the face of hatred and prejudice and strive to continue their unfinished work. That's why the House passed the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act last week to defend this precious right for so many Americans.

"Today, we recommit ourselves to fighting for equal access to and equal participation in our democracy. We will not fall short of achieving this goal. We will not allow policies reminiscent of the Jim Crow era to go unchallenged. We ought to get into what John Lewis called "good trouble' to realize that the vision of our country as laid out by our Founders: that justice and equality must prevail for all and that every American can have an equal voice in our democracy."

Congressman Hoyer also encourages Fifth District residents to participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service by volunteering in the community. The MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service -- a "day on, not a day off." Click here to learn more.

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