[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 50 (Tuesday, April 1, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H1860-H1864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1515
COMMEMORATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ASSASSINATION OF DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR.
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1061) commemorating the 40th anniversary of the
assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and encouraging people of
the United States to pause and remember the life and legacy of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr., and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1061
Whereas 40 years ago on April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., the moral leader of America, was taken from us all
too soon by an assassin's bullet, while standing on the
balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was
to lead sanitation workers in protest against low wages and
intolerable working conditions;
Whereas Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., while just one man,
changed America forever in a few short years through his
preaching of nonviolence and passive resistance;
Whereas Dr. King was the preeminent civil rights advocate
of his time, leading the civil rights movement in the United
States during the 1950s and 1960s and earning world-wide
recognition as an eloquent and articulate spokesperson for
equality;
Whereas Dr. King dedicated his life to securing the
fundamental principles of the United States of liberty and
justice for all United States citizens;
Whereas Dr. King was a champion of nonviolence who
fervently advocated nonviolent resistance as the strategy to
end segregation and racial discrimination in America, and in
1964, at age 35, he became the youngest man to be awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize in recognition for his efforts;
Whereas through his work and reliance on nonviolent
protest, Dr. King was instrumental in the passage of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965;
Whereas Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., broke down walls of
racial segregation and racial discrimination in places of
public accommodation;
Whereas Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., opened doors to the
participation of all Americans in the political process;
Whereas the work of Dr. King created a basis of
understanding and respect and helped communities, and the
United States as a whole, to act cooperatively and
courageously to restore tolerance, justice, and equality
between people;
Whereas in the face of hatred and violence, Dr. King
preached a doctrine of nonviolence and civil disobedience to
combat segregation, discrimination, and racial injustice, and
believed that people have the moral capacity to care for
other people;
Whereas Dr. King awakened the conscience and consciousness
of the United States and used his message of hope to bring
people together to build the ``Beloved Community'', a
community of justice, at peace with itself;
Whereas Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., through his
persistence, raw courage, and faith brought about a
nonviolent revolution in America without firing a single
bullet; and
Whereas our country and our society are better because of
what he did and what he said: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives encourages all
Americans to--
(1) pause and remember the life and legacy of Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., on this, the 40th anniversary of his death;
(2) commemorate the legacy of Dr. King, so that, as Dr.
King hoped, ``one day this Nation will rise up and live out
the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be
self-evident; that all men are created equal''; and
(3) remember the message of Dr. King and rededicate
themselves to Dr. King's goal of a free and just United
States.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Conyers) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
General Leave
Mr. CONYERS. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5
legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution
1061.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. CONYERS. I thank the Speaker, and I yield myself as much time as
I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, Members of the House, this Friday, April 4, will mark
the 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination in
1968.
I note that, once again, our distinguished colleague from Georgia,
John Lewis, has introduced a bipartisan House Resolution calling upon
all Americans, on this anniversary, to pause and remember the life and
legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and I'd like to acknowledge the
many members of the Judiciary Committee supporting this resolution,
Lamar Smith, Gerald Nadler, Zoe Lofgren, Bobby Scott, Keith Ellison,
Steve Cohen and others.
Dr. King was not only our greatest civil rights leader, but he was
also the person that personally has given me the political,
philosophical undergirding to attempt to transfer his belief system
into some of the objectives of the United States through the Congress.
What a leader he was.
I shall be in Memphis this Friday celebrating, with the distinguished
gentleman from New York, Harry Bellefonte, and many others, the work
that he has done in trying to bring justice, understanding, full
employment, an economic system, and end the war in this country and in
this world.
He addressed, on the night before his assassination, the sanitation
workers in Memphis at the Mason Temple. And I don't know about you, but
it seemed to me that he had a premonition that he was spending the last
days of his life on earth in this cause. He seemed to have projected
his understanding of how fleeting his life may have been.
Of course, I'm also connected to Dr. King by his family, Coretta
Scott King and their children, and of course, the unbelievably
courageous Mrs. Rosa Parks, who later came to Detroit and honored my
office by working there for many, many years.
And so I'm very pleased to join in with this re-examination and
remembrance of our great leader, to me, one of the greatest leaders of
the 20th century. And so I'm proud to stand before you as the chairman
of the Judiciary to bring this resolution forward.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
This bill commemorates the 40th anniversary of the tragic
assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King was the leader of
a historic, nonviolent revolution in the U.S. Over the course of his
life he fought for equal justice and led the Nation towards racial
harmony.
While advancing this great movement, Dr. King's home was bombed, and
he was subjected to relentless personal and physical abuse. Despite
this violence, Dr. King responded in peace
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with strong conviction and sound reason. And as a preacher, Dr. King's
religious beliefs were essential to the success of his nonviolent
efforts. It is doubtful that such a long and enduring movement of peace
could have survived in the face of such violence without the power of
religious inspiration behind it.
From 1957 to 1968, Dr. King traveled over 6 million miles and spoke
over 2,500 times about justice and equal freedom under the law.
On August 28, 1963, Dr. King led a peaceful march of 250,000 people
through the streets of Washington, D.C. And it is here, in this city,
where he delivered a speech that spoke for all Americans, regardless of
the color of their skin. In his ``I Have a Dream'' speech, Dr. King
called the march the ``greatest demonstration for freedom in the
history of our nation,'' and he was right.
``I have a dream,'' he said, ``that my four little children will one
day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of
their skin, but by the content of their character.''
Dr. King not only lived the American dream, but he opened that same
door of opportunity for millions of Americans. He lived for the causes
of justice and equality.
On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his
hotel room in Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. King was assassinated. But a
single vicious act could not extinguish Dr. King's legacy, which
endures to this day. And America is a better, freer Nation because of
his legacy.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased now to yield as much time as
he may consume to the one person in the House of Representatives and
the United States Senate that knew Martin King, Jr., better than any of
us here. He's a distinguished civil rights leader in his own right, but
he worked closely with Dr. King and the SCLC and SNCC and other civil
rights organizations. I am pleased to recognize the gentleman from
Georgia, John Lewis, for as much time as he may consume.
Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend and my
colleague, Chairman Conyers, for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I think it is fitting and appropriate that we pause, as
a Nation and as a people, to remember the life of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., a man who changed America forever.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee
on April 4, 1968. He had emerged as a leader, not just for a people,
but for a Nation. His leadership and commitment to a truly interracial
democracy played a key role in ending legal segregation in America. He
led the first major nonviolent campaign in modern America when he
emerged as the leader of the Montgomery bus boycott that lasted 381
days.
He inspired thousands and thousands of people to follow the way of
nonviolence. In doing so, he inspired other movements and had an effect
on so many young people and some not so young.
Just think, a few short years ago, in America, there were signs that
said, ``White women, Colored women,'' ``White men, Colored men,''
``White waiting, Colored waiting.'' There was segregation in public
accommodations and transportation. Men and women of color could not
even register to vote.
Dr. King created a climate, created an environment that the power of
the courts, the power of Congress, and the President of the United
States couldn't look the other way; they couldn't say no.
In his short life, he led the American people on a journey that is
ongoing even today.
Mr. Speaker, I will never forget coming to Washington with him in
early June, 1963. We met with President Kennedy and other leaders in
his administration. Dr. King informed the President that there was a
crisis in our country and that he had to act.
Later, Dr. King came back to Washington to speak and to march on
Washington. This time he was able to bring 250,000 Americans, Black and
White, and people of all faiths and backgrounds. On that day, he
transformed the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to a modern-day pulpit.
On that day, he shared his dream of the Beloved Community, a truly
interracial democracy.
I can still hear him saying, ``I have a dream today, a dream deeply
rooted in the American dream.''
Mr. Speaker, today we encourage all citizens, especially our young
people, to take time to reflect on the teachings and the leadership of
Martin Luther King, Jr. Our Nation is a better place, and we are a
better people because of him.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I don't have any other speakers at
this time. I will yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Conyers), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. CONYERS. I thank the gentleman from Texas, the ranking member,
Mr. Smith.
I would like now to recognize Steve Cohen, our distinguished
colleague from Memphis, Tennessee, for 2 minutes.
Mr. COHEN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
This Friday, our Nation will recognize the 40th anniversary of a most
infamous day in our country's history, the assassination of the great
Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.
It's impossible to speak about Dr. King without remembering his
eloquence and powerful oratory. Dr. King brought his brilliant mind and
God-given speech to bear against mighty forces, forces which were
entrenched and interwoven so powerfully in the very fabric of our
country that the task to overcome seemed nearly impossible. But he was
not deterred. And even from the distance of 40 years, what Martin
Luther King, Jr., accomplished in his short number of years on this
earth is awe-inspiring. He started a march to justice that he still
inspires and which moves toward fulfillment.
An assassin's shot rang out in Memphis, silencing a most beautiful
and eloquent man, but it didn't silence his dream. He was a man who
worked with Bayard Rustin to take Gandhi's principles of nonviolence
and change a country through different forms of civil disobedience that
had not been seen in this country successfully.
He brought a march to Washington that's still the greatest march
known to this day, a collection of individuals demanding a change of
course for this country. And he changed this country and changed, his
force made this Congress and the President of the United States, at
that time, Lyndon Johnson, change its course and bring about great
civil rights legislation.
A man whose life and death continues to define our country and our
world, his dream survives his death, and will continue to survive as
long as we know what is good and just about our Nation.
The man could be killed, but not the dream. The dream lives in each
of us. Though the fires of progress sometimes seem to dwindle to
embers, each time we declare that all people are equal, each time we
fight against discrimination and intolerance, and each time we speak
truth to power, each time we do those things we fan the flame of Martin
Luther King's dream and his purpose and his passion lives on in us.
Martin Luther King spoke truth to power, and that is a great thing.
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased now to recognize the
distinguished gentleman from Georgia, Mr. David Scott, and I recognize
him for 3 minutes.
{time} 1530
Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Thank you, Chairman Conyers. It's so good to be
here with my good friend Mr. Lewis from Georgia and Mr. Cohen from
Tennessee.
Mr. Speaker, today, we gather to pay tribute and to recognize an
extraordinary life on the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Mr. Speaker, in the book of Genesis in the 37th chapter, in the 19th
verse, it says these words: Lo, here cometh the dreamer. Let us slay
him and then we shall see what will become of his dream.
I think that is a most fitting way to enter my remarks this afternoon
about Dr. King, for his was truly a dream, but that dream was built on
three strong pillars. One was public accommodations. The other was
voting rights. But the other, and perhaps the tougher, was economic
rights, how do we get the lever to make the dream a reality. Dr.
[[Page H1862]]
King knew full well it didn't matter if we could sit anywhere on the
bus if we don't have money to get on the bus. It doesn't matter if we
could live anywhere we wanted if we didn't have money to buy the house
and to keep the house.
So, as we reflect today on that economic right, it is so fitting that
so much is still to be done. For as we look at the front page of the
New York Times yesterday, we find that there are more people who are on
food stamps percentage-wise in this country than 40 years ago when Dr.
King died. What has happened to his dream after he was slain?
It's so fitting that if we start to think for a moment what Dr. King
was doing in those moments and hours before his death. He was grappling
with the economic question, moving back and forward from Washington,
D.C., to Atlanta, Georgia, to Memphis, dealing with the poor people's
campaign, the war on poverty, and, most significantly, dealing with the
most basic of economic rights, a livable wage for jobs for the
sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee.
And so he knew that the work had not been done. His prophetic words,
as Chairman Conyers referred, it's almost as if he was preaching his
own funeral when he said he had reached the mountaintop and had looked
over and seen the promised land. I may not get there with you, but I
want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the promised
land. And all the threats that were on his life, it was as if he knew
that the bullet in 24 hours was out there waiting for him.
And he said in his immortal words: I fear no man, for mine eyes have
seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.
So, as we gather here, let us understand that that dream is still not
the reality; although the pillars that he planted, part of them are. It
is the tough bucket of the economic issues that we are grappling with
on the floor of this House of Representatives as we speak, keeping
people in their homes, getting people so they can work and have
employment and jobs, opening up the economic system so that people will
have businesses and participate in a livable way.
So, as we reflect, let us remember those words from Genesis: Lo, here
cometh the dreamer. Let us slay him and then we shall see what will
become of his dream.
We in this House of Representatives can make that dream a reality by
finishing that final plank, the economic plank.
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased now to recognize the gentleman
from Maryland, the Honorable Elijah Cummings, who is not only an
attorney but a person of deep religious persuasions, a leader in the
church. He has worked continually in the area of civil rights, voter
activity, and I yield him as much time as he may consume.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for
yielding, and I associate myself with the words that have already been
spoken by all of my colleagues.
My last colleague who spoke, I just want Mr. Scott, as I listened to
him I could not help but think about the first chapter of Habakkuk,
fifth verse, and in that verse it says that God says that He will do
miracles and He will do it during our time, and if He were to tell us
what those miracles would be, we would not believe Him.
I rise in support of this resolution, sponsored by the distinguished
gentleman from Georgia, commemorating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther
King on the 40th anniversary of his assassination.
Mr. Speaker, young Americans of this time are the third generation to
come of age since Representative John Lewis and other brave young
Americans worked with Dr. King to lead America from inequity towards
justice and from violence toward a more peace-filled world.
We have been inspired and heartened to witness the young people of
our time engaged in the democratic process this year like no other.
They are renewing Dr. King's message and are crying out to us in Dr.
King's voice, through the often harsh realities of their lives.
I must submit to you, Mr. Speaker, that whatever their ethnic
backgrounds may be, far too many of these idealistic young Americans
are being subjected to the most crippling segregation of all, the
segregation from opportunity that is the inevitable result of poverty.
I've often said that our children are the living messages we send to a
future we will never see.
And Mr. Speaker, this new, energized, and determined generation is
also challenging the foreign policies of this great Nation, even as Dr.
King challenged American foreign policy four decades ago.
In this spirit, Mr. Speaker, I join Representative Lewis, a true
American hero who put his own life and safety on the line for these
American principles, and I ask that my colleagues join me in supporting
this resolution. In doing so, we honor Dr. King and his legacy to
America through our actions, as well as through our words.
And as it was said in Habakkuk, miracles will happen. The question is
whether we will believe in them and do as Dr. King did. Dr. King looked
out, and he was not blinded by what he saw, but he saw things that
others did not see, but more significantly, he took his vision and put
it in the form of a mission and accomplished much.
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, it's now my high privilege to recognize the
majority leader, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) who many years
ago had me bring to one of his meetings Rosa Parks, and that was the
beginning of a very important relationship between Mrs. Parks and Steny
Hoyer and myself.
Mr. HOYER. I thank my friend for yielding.
John Conyers is a distinguished leader of the civil rights movement,
whose leadership and commitment and tenacity and steadfastness led to
declaration of a holiday, a holy day in many respects, a day of
recommitment when we remember the life, legacy, and teaching of Martin
Luther King, Jr. I did not know Dr. King. I met him but didn't know
him.
But I have known John Conyers and I have known John Lewis, and I know
them both and they are giants themselves. John Lewis, of course, is the
sponsor of this resolution, who represents Atlanta, who came from
Alabama, who marched across the Edmund Pettis Bridge, confronted by
troops who wanted to stop him from doing what is basic to the United
States of America, the right of every citizen to express their view on
how their government ought to be peopled and run, the right to vote.
As a result of his courage, the leadership of Dr. King and John
Conyers and so many others, we passed a Voting Rights Act. I am honored
to stand with these two giants.
I understand that Mr. Smith, the ranking member of the committee,
helped bring this bill to the floor.
I am of that generation that remembers the dark day in April of 1968,
followed too closely by another dark day on June 6, just two-and-some-
odd months later.
Mr. Speaker, 40 years ago this Friday, Martin Luther King, Jr., was
murdered. He was an American prophet. He called us to love justice, to
love our brothers and sisters of every color, of every race, of every
nationality, of every religion, of every gender. He spoke the truth,
but on April 4, 1968, he was taken from us. But his lesson was not
taken from us nor his example.
In this flawed and fallen world, hate and rage and violence will have
their day, but if we can find even a sliver of good in that crime, it
must be this: Dr. King died on a balcony, an open place, a public
place. Dr. King showed us, he proved with his own body, that a just
cause is worth dying for, as our Founding Fathers had done, as frankly,
in my religion, Jesus did.
It is worth living for, too, he showed us. This resolution, even
though I will vote for it wholeheartedly, even though I trust it will
pass unanimously, even though it's offered by my good friend John
Lewis, who ``toiled, and wrought, and thought'' with Dr. King, is just
words on paper, unless we match it with the resolve of our lives. That
is what Dr. King wanted us to do.
Our conduct, our actions, are the only honors we have worth giving.
These words on paper take on value when, and only when, they spur us
toward what Dr. King called ``a committed life.''
After the autopsy, which showed that his 39-year-old body held the
strained and tired heart of an elderly man; after two brown mules
pulled his casket in a
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wooden cart through the streets of Atlanta; after tens of thousands
assembled to put him to rest, Dr. King spoke at his own funeral.
The loudspeakers played a tape of one of his old sermons, and these
were the words that echoed through the Ebenezer Baptist Church. ``I
don't want a long funeral. I'd like somebody to mention that day that
Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others. I'd
like for somebody to say that day that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
tried to love somebody. I want you to say that day that I tried to be
right on the war question. I want you to be able to say that day that I
did try to feed the hungry. And I want you to be able to say that day
that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked.''
We can say all of it, with truth, about Martin Luther King, Jr., a
great American, a great leader, a great man and, yes, a citizen
revered, respected, and honored by the world, for he saw himself not
just as an American, proud though he was of this Nation's promise, but
also he saw himself as a part of all mankind.
May we do our best to live by his example as we remember the sad day
when his body was taken from us, but they could not take his lessons.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support
of H. Res. 1061,``Observing the 40th anniversary of the assassination
of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and encouraging the people of the United
States to pause and remember the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. and for other purposes,'' introduced by my distinguished
colleague from Georgia, Representative John Lewis. This praiseworthy
legislation will commemorate the 40th anniversary of Dr. King's
assassination by expanding his legacy and honoring his paradigm of
nonviolence, courage, compassion, dignity, and public service.
On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated while on
the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. In remembering
the 40th anniversary of Dr. King's assassination, we should take a
moment to reflect upon the purpose for which Dr. King and other civil
rights pioneers so resiliently fought. Through his philosophical words
and fortified stance against racial injustice, Dr. King provided a road
map for all to unite and share in the prosperity of this great
democracy. While we acknowledge that our Nation has come a long way,
Dr. King's dream has yet to be realized in its entirety. Martin Luther
King's contributions to our history place him in this unparalleled
position. It is Dr. King who represents the best in all of us and it is
in his memory that we continue to devote ourselves to his vision.
In his short life, Martin Luther King was instrumental in helping us
realize and rectify those unspeakable wrongs which tarnished the name
of America. African Americans needed a Martin Luther King, but above
all, America needed him. The significant qualities of this special man
cannot be underestimated nor taken for granted. Within a span of 13
years, from 1955 to his death in 1968, he was able to expound, expose,
and extricate America from many wrongs. Dr. King's inspiring words
filled a great void in our nation, and answered our collective longing
to become a country that truly lived by its dignified principles. And
so we memorialize this man of action, who put his life on the line for
freedom and justice every day.
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King's ``I Have a Dream'' Speech,
delivered on August 28, 1963, was a clarion call to each citizen of
this great Nation that we still hear today. His request was simply and
eloquently conveyed--he challenged America to live up to the true
meaning of its creed, to make real the words written in its Declaration
of Independence and to have a place in this Nation's Bill of Rights. It
is with this goal in mind that we strive to provide equal opportunity
to all.
Dr. King spoke about his contentment with the end of his mortal life
in his last speech, ``I've Been to the Mountaintop,'' on April 3, 1968
at Mason Temple. Even then he lifted up the value of service as the
hallmark of a full life and reiterated the importance of continuing the
struggle for human rights. ``We've got some difficult days ahead. But
it doesn't matter with me now because I've been to the mountaintop.''
We must continue to pay homage to the valor of a man who endured
harassment, embarrassment, beatings, and bombings. We commemorate the
man who went to jail 29 times to achieve freedom for others, and who
knew he would pay the ultimate price for his leadership, but kept on
marching and protesting and organizing anyway. Dr. King's vision of
equality under the law should never lose its vigor despite times of
unevenness in our equality. For without that vision--without that
dream--we can never continue to improve on the human condition.
During these difficult days when the United States is bogged down in
a misguided and mismanaged war in Iraq, which has claimed the lives of
over 4,000 men and women, we should also remember that the Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was, above all, a person who was always willing
to speak truth to power. There is perhaps no better example of Dr.
King's moral integrity and consistency than his criticism of the
Vietnam War being waged by the Johnson Administration, an
administration that was otherwise a friend and champion of civil and
human rights. He stated, ``We are adding cynicism to the process of
death, for they must know after a short period there that none of the
things we claim to be fighting for are really involved.''
Dr. King was taken from us too soon at the tender age of 39 years
old. Many people remember that Dr. King died in Memphis, but few
remember why he was there. On that fateful day, the 4th day of April in
1968, Dr. King came to Memphis to lead a strike by the city's
sanitation workers.
The death of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will never
overshadow his life. He was both a dreamer and a man of action. Forty
years after his death, Dr. King continues to teach us all. He leaves a
legacy of hope, tempered with peace; although, it is a vision not yet
fulfilled.
Mr. Speaker, words cannot convey or adequately repay the debt that
is owed. We cannot sufficiently articulate the feelings of sorrow that
are still universally felt; however, we can pay Dr. King and other
civil rights pioneers no greater tribute than to carry on the work they
believed in and paid the ultimate sacrifice for. The contributions that
Dr. King provided are priceless and will never be forgotten. As we
recognize the 40th Anniversary of the slaying of a martyr, let us
remember to commemorate his vision, remember his message, and
rededicate ourselves to his goal of a free and just United States. I
hope every person here rededicates his or her life to fulfilling his
legacy--that all of us here highly resolve that Dr. King's dream never
dies but becomes a living reality for all the children of this great
nation and the world.
I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this
important legislation, and, in-so-doing, giving Dr. King the respect
that he so greatly deserves.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would first like
to thank my colleague from Georgia Mr. John Lewis for introducing this
resolution which honors the life and legacy of one of America's
greatest citizens, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Today, nearly 40 years after he was tragically taken from us, we are
still striving to create a society of equal opportunity which he so
eloquently called for. We still have a long way to go before his goals
will be achieved, but at least he left for us a beacon of hope toward
which we can all strive.
I am privileged to represent the Thirtieth District of Texas in the
Congress and would note that there are many in North Texas who have
endeavored to maintain the legacy of Dr. King. Indeed, in their
everyday actions, the clergy, elected officials, students and community
in the district strive to implement Dr. King's philosophy.
In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace
Prize for his efforts to end segregation and racial discrimination
through civil disobedience and other non-violent means.
It is ironic that his life was taken so prematurely at the hands of
violence as he visited Memphis, Tennessee to help lead sanitation
workers in a protest over black workers being sent home with no pay
because of bad weather when white workers remained on the job. This
tragic incident happened the day after he gave his ``I've been to the
Mountaintop'' speech during which he seemed to almost prophetically
foreshadow his impending death.
Dr. King stood for the common man and for social and political
justice in every facet and echelon of life. As a man of vision and
determination to do God's will, King was truly destined to lead the
people to the ``promised land.''
Sadly, like Moses, Dr. King was not able to go into the promised land
of opportunities with those he led so far through the wilderness of
injustice, hatred, and bigotry. Still today, there are many that have
been left to rough their way through the thicket of discrimination and
racism. Therefore, it is our responsibility to carry on the beacon he
left for us that lights the way to true equality and justice.
Mr. Speaker, we can honor Dr. King by bowing our heads in memory of
him, but only for a moment. For we must then lift our heads, hold each
other hands, look ahead, heads high, and continue the fight for his
sacrifice for this Nation which was freedom, equality and opportunity
for all.
Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1061,
a measure that observes the 40th anniversary of the assassination of
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and encourages the people of the United
States to
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pause and remember the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This Friday, April 4, 2008, marks the tragic 40th anniversary of Dr.
King's assassination. Dr. King's work for civil rights has remained an
inspiration to all those committed to liberty and freedom throughout
the world.
While April 4 marks a sad day in American history, it is my hope
that, as a nation, we will continue to reflect on the actions and
accomplishments of Dr. King. Let April 4th be a day on which we
celebrate Dr. King's life, study his teachings, and honor his legacy.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was born on January 15, 1929, and grew
up in Georgia, attending segregated schools throughout his early
education. Overcoming these unjust beginnings, King went on to receive
a Bachelor of Arts from Morehouse College in 1948, a Bachelor of
Divinity from Pennsylvania's Crozer Theological Seminary in 1951, and a
Ph.D. from Boston University in 1955 before becoming pastor at the
Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama.
Dr. King was actively involved in the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and championed efforts for racial
equality. In 1955, after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a
white man on a Montgomery bus, Dr. King led the historic Montgomery Bus
Boycott, the first nonviolent demonstration of the Civil Rights
Movement. There, his steadfast adherence to nonviolence and unwavering
devotion to the struggle for equality in the face of threats to his
life propelled him to the leadership of the Civil Rights Movement.
In 1957, Dr. King was elected President of the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference (SCLC), where he drew inspiration from
Christianity and the teachings of Ghandi to be a major leader in the
Civil Rights Movement. In the ensuing decade, Dr. King was feverishly
active in the struggle for racial equality, constantly traveling the
country to orchestrate and participate in demonstrations and delivering
the inspirational addresses for which he is renowned. In that time he
also penned five books and many essays, consulted to Presidents Kennedy
and Johnson, and became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace
Prize. Unfortunately, Dr. King was assassinated on the evening of April
4, 1968, on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where
he planned to lead a protest march to show solidarity with striking
garbage workers the next day.
The nonviolent manner in which Dr. King fought for fundamental
freedoms, such as desegregation and the right to vote, has had a
lasting impact on the psyche of this country. Perhaps the greatest
example of Dr. King's leadership and legacy is his ``I Have a Dream''
speech, which he gave in front of the Lincoln Memorial during the March
on Washington in 1963. In that speech, Dr. King spoke about his dream
for a nation where his four children would not be judged by the color
of their skin, but by their character.
Mr. Speaker, Friday may be the anniversary of the death of one of our
nation's greatest citizens, but I also hope it is a day on which we can
reflect on the positive changes that were set in motion due to Dr.
King's work. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. raised the conscience of
America. He made our nation reexamine our commitment to freedom and
liberty, and he did so with a message of peace and non-violence. To
this day, Dr. King's work, message, and legacy remain imprinted on the
minds of those who carry on his noble cause across America, from
Montgomery, Alabama, to Northwest Indiana.
Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res.
1061, authored by my good friend from the Georgia delegation, Mr. John
Lewis.
Since his death 40 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has come to
be known as a visionary who drove political and social change in our
country. And, as the Civil Rights movement evolved, he was an
indispensable figure who made historic progress toward fulfilling the
country's promise of freedom and justice for all.
As a student at Morehouse, I was greatly influenced by his faith-
oriented philosophy--something which still guides me today. I remember
meeting him on the Morehouse campus, where he had been a student
himself a few years before and where he often returned.
Before deciding on Emory Law School, I entertained the notion of
going to seminary just as Dr. King did. In the end I decided to become
a lawyer, in part because I realized that every time Dr. King went to
jail, he needed a lawyer to help to get him out.
Unfortunately I never had the privilege of helping him get out of
jail. Forty years ago this month, I marched behind the mule-drawn wagon
that carried his coffin, and I sang at his funeral as a member of the
Morehouse Glee Club. It was an experience that will always remain vivid
in my memory.
Of course, Martin Luther King, Jr. was not a perfect person. He never
claimed to be. Like all of us, he was a human being. But he possessed
an abundance of qualities that ultimately made him an heroic and
patriotic figure.
He had unwavering faith not only in God, but also this country. He
possessed limitless courage and sacrifice in the name of that faith,
and endured numerous beatings, jailings, and dangers. He showed
tremendous organizational skill by bringing people together and forging
a consensus when no one else could.
And his brilliant oratorical skill--eloquence and logic coupled with
an appeal to better ourselves.
In his eulogy for Dr. King, Dr. Benjamin Mays said:
``[Dr. King] had faith in this country. He died striving to
desegregate and integrate America to the end that this great
nation of ours, born in revolution and blood, conceived in
liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are
created free and equal, will truly become the lighthouse of
freedom . . .''
Martin Luther King, Jr. will be remembered this week as a great
leader of the civil rights era, a humanitarian, a man of God, a
crusader, and by his family, as a loving husband and father.
Additionally, many of us remember a man who lived his life in pursuit
of this country's founding principles. So as we commemorate his life
with this resolution in the United States House of Representatives--I
would also like to remember him as one of America's great patriots.
Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of the
assassination of one of the most prominent leaders of the American
Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King made the
ultimate sacrifice advocating for civil rights when he was assassinated
on this day 40 years ago while standing on the balcony of his motel
room in Memphis, Tennessee. His untimely death gives our nation impetus
to realize the dream he espoused, and carry on his legacy.
Dr. King fought to raise the moral and political consciousness of all
Americans. As a Baptist preacher, philosopher, and activist, he was
most interested in creating a world where he could peacefully and
righteously raise his own children. He was passionate about ending
poverty and war, both in this country and abroad. Though he is revered
for his role within the African American community, he believed that
the struggle he led was ultimately for the liberation of the United
States and all those who believed in freedom. In this time of global
uncertainty and conflict, his wisdom and foresight should resonate with
us all.
I would like to share an excerpt from his speech given on April 4,
1967 at a meeting of Clergy and Laity Concerned at Riverside Church in
New York City:
``Somehow this madness must cease. We must stop now. I
speak as a child of God and brother to the suffering poor of
Vietnam. I speak for those whose land is being laid waste,
whose homes are being destroyed, whose culture is being
subverted. I speak for the poor of America who are paying the
double price of smashed hopes at home and death and
corruption in Vietnam. I speak as a citizen of the world, for
the world as it stands aghast at the path we have taken. I
speak as an American to the leaders of my own nation. The
great initiative in this war is ours. The initiative to stop
it must be ours. . . .
The only change came from America as we increased our troop
commitments in support of governments which were singularly
corrupt, inept and without popular support. All the while the
people read our leaflets and received regular promises of
peace and democracy--and land reform. Now they languish under
our bombs and consider us--not their fellow Vietnamese --the
real enemy.''
Dr. King believed in our collective potential to stand for justice
and peace everywhere. On this day, we honor his life and legacy by
protecting his dream, and living up to our inherent potential.
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time and
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1061.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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