[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 1325]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE BIRTHDAY AND PUBLIC HOLIDAY FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased that I got an 
opportunity to listen to the statement from the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Kucinich), who just made what I would consider to be one of the 
most common sense, passionate and eloquent statements about where 
America ought to be and what its position should be vis-a-vis the rest 
of the world. And so I want to thank you so much, Mr. Kucinich, for 
having had the opportunity to just hear the statement that you have 
just made.
  Mr. Speaker, like many others, I spent much of the weekend talking 
about the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King and what he meant to 
America. And earlier today, we had a resolution, bill on the floor, 
celebrating the birthday and public holiday for Martin Luther King, Jr.
  One of the young staffers in Government Reform and Oversight had 
written a statement that I was supposed to have read at that time 
because I was supposed to have managed that bill, but I was not here. 
But I was so impressed by the statement that this young person had 
written that I decided that I would come and share it with the rest of 
America anyway.
  And so he wrote, Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Nation celebrated the 
life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the impact he made on our 
society. His nonviolent struggle for freedom, dignity and equality of 
all races broke down longstanding barriers which denied equal 
opportunity to all Americans. Although we still have a long march ahead 
toward Dr. King's dream of peace and impartiality, his work inspired 
many to work for a world that respects and celebrates diversity.
  Born January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. King stood out as a 
student and entered into the Christian ministry. There he responded to 
racial prejudices and injustices that surrounded him when Rosa Parks 
refused to relinquish her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus. Dr. King 
was elected to the Montgomery Improvement Association and led the bus 
boycott that ensued. Later, King would organize the Southern Christian 
Leadership Conference, which provided him a platform to become a more 
influential leader in the civil rights movement.
  He continued to advocate civil disobedience, despite the fact that 
fire hoses and attack dogs were turned on him and fellow protesters in 
Birmingham. He spearheaded the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom 
in 1963. The March on Washington brought more than 200,000 people to 
the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and demanded the elimination of 
racial segregation in public schools, protection for demonstrators 
against police brutality and self-government for the District of 
Columbia. This march also included Dr. King's now famous, ``I Have a 
Dream'' speech, which became a profound turning point in the American 
conscience.
  In 1964, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and continued to lead 
the civil rights movement. His interests broadened from civil rights to 
include criticism of the Vietnam war and the plight of the 
impoverished.

                              {time}  1945

  His plan for another march to Washington meant for underprivileged 
Americans was cut short when he was shot and killed on April 4, 1968. 
As we commemorate his life and work, we should apply the lessons he 
demonstrated in the context of current world events. His nonviolent 
approach to constructive change and his firm stance of fairness are 
leadership qualities that Washington and the world must remember and 
emulate.
  As we face issues of national importance day in and out in this 
Chamber, we must bear in mind the example that Dr. King set in the hope 
that one day, as he said, the leaders of the world will sit down at the 
conference table and realize that unless mankind puts an end to war, 
war would put an end to all of us.
  I think that is exactly what Mr. Kucinich was saying a moment ago.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank you again for the opportunity to have addressed 
the House this evening, and I thank my young colleague for having 
written such an eloquent statement.

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