Pelosi: 'Let Us Honor Martin Luther King's Service With Our Own'

Pelosi: 'Let Us Honor Martin Luther King's Service With Our Own'

Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 76th birthday, which the nation will observe on Monday:

"On Monday, we honor the life and legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who challenged the conscience of our country and affirmed our deepest values. He lived his life in the belief that 'liberty and justice for all' is not just a pledge, but a fundamental principle that must guide us as a people.

"Dr. King was an American hero and one of the greatest Americans ever to live. But his own definition of greatness was, as he said: 'Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.'

"As we reflect on Dr. King, we are inspired by his words and deeds, but we honor his legacy most when we answer his call to service. To honor his strong humanitarian beliefs, we must continue to help with the relief effort in the wake of the tsunamis in South Asia. To honor his passion for fairness, we must work to end racial discrimination and intimidation through racial profiling and voter suppression, and to end racial disparities in health care.

"To honor his dedication to economic justice, we must end the national disgrace of 1 in 5 children living in poverty, including more than one-third of African American children. We must provide a quality education for every child and to fully fund initiatives that students need to succeed. And we must fight for a better America in which African American unemployment is not twice that of the national average.

"Dr. King had the ability to find hope in trying times. Even as we face the challenges of our day, we must celebrate the successes we have made as a society. Black families have expanded the middle class. There are more African American CEOs than ever before, and minority-owned small businesses are a significant part of our national economy. African Americans are serving at all levels of government, including as Secretary of State. In the 109th Congress, we have 43 African American Members, the largest number in the history of this country. This includes four new House Members and the first African American Senator of the 21st century.

"This progress was the work of heroes, not merely the tide of history. Great leaders such as Martin Luther King and great Americans all across the country made it possible through their sacrifice and service. Let us honor Dr. King's service with our own."

http://www.house.gov/pelosi/press/releases/Jan05/MLKDay011405.html