[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 14 (Wednesday, February 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E116-E117]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MRS. CORETTA SCOTT KING

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. PATRICK J. KENNEDY

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 31, 2006

  Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, Coretta Scott King's 
passing is a tremendous loss for our country and for all who have 
worked to uphold America's promise of equal justice under the law. She 
led with great passion, integrity and with a spirit that should be a 
guiding light for all of us.
  When Americans visit our Nation's Capital, they are overwhelmed with 
beautiful monuments honoring the great leaders of our country. From the 
Jefferson Memorial to the Washington Monument to the U.S. Capitol, 
every building and statue is in place to remind Americans of the legacy 
left by these leaders and their contributions to the framework of our 
Nation. There is no monument or building dedicated to the heroic 
actions that mark Mrs. King's life in the Nation's Capital, but I 
believe her legacy lives on in ways that cannot be adequately honored 
with a statue. Mrs. King's legacy is honored when African-American 
women join their neighbors at the local poll to vote on Election Day. 
And she is honored when children read for the first time a sign that 
says ``Whites Only,'' not in their community, but in a museum.
  Mrs. King, who was faced with the tragic and early loss of her life 
partner, The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., did not act bitterly 
towards the violence that interrupted her life, but continued to spread 
the message of peace and equality to all corners of the world. As 
founding President, Chair, and Chief Executive Officer of the Martin 
Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Mrs. King spent 
her life furthering the Civil Rights Movement, and later, creating the 
largest archive of documents from this era. With this collection in 
place, future generations will have the ability to educate themselves 
beyond what is read in textbooks, and will have the opportunity to 
experience firsthand the sacrifices that were made to build the world 
we live in today.
  Like all who have sacrificed for the most fundamental American 
value--that equality and justice are the birthright of everyone in our 
society--Mrs. King has left us a country that is better today than when 
she arrived. However, there is still much work that remains to ensure 
that every American has the opportunity to fulfill their potential and 
we must uphold her legacy by continuing her work.
  I hope that all Americans will pause to remember the values for which 
she stood and to

[[Page E117]]

consider how we can work together to make sure the promise of America 
is enjoyed equally by all.

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