[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 30, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E62]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 30, 2001

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Martin 
Luther King, Jr.
  America is a country of many faces and we take pride in our nation's 
diversity. America is known as the ``great melting pot'' because it has 
welcomed many people from all over the world to share in living the 
American dream. Unfortunately, reality is often different than the 
dream for many Americans.
  The reality has often been ugly. Segregation was a blight on our 
nation that deprived millions of people equality in this country and 
was often used as a tool to oppress people and keep them from living up 
to their full potential. The system kept many people in the shackles of 
poverty. America needed a bold leader who, despite hardships and 
violent attacks, would continue to fight for justice.
  In 1955 frustration at the system of segregation boiled over in 
Montgomery, Alabama when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a 
city bus to a white passenger. She was consequentially arrested. Her 
act sparked a citywide boycott of the bus system by African-Americans 
that lasted more than a year. The boycott elevated an unknown clergyman 
named Martin Luther King, Jr., to national prominence and resulted in 
the end to segregation on city buses. Dr. King continued to promote 
peaceful protest and inspired a generation of Americans to work to end 
segregation and to fight for equality. His dedication to the cause of 
ending a broken system and bringing America's reality closer to the 
dream won him the Nobel Peace Prize and empowered many Americans.
  But his work is not done. Barriers to racial equality must still be 
torn down and many hearts still need to be healed. We cannot let Martin 
Luther King's work go unfinished; we have not reached the mountaintop 
yet. Even today, ethnic minorities, women, gays and lesbians, the 
disabled and others are often treated as if they are second class 
citizens. This must not stand. There is no reason why our nation, which 
prides itself in being the home of the free, should continue to treat 
people unequally. It is time to make the dream fully real. We must 
challenge ourselves to reach across divides and embrace and celebrate 
our nation's diversity. We as a country and as a people will be 
stronger because of it.

                          ____________________